The Hindu Business Line : `Tier-II cities should be fuelled with the support of Bangalore'

`China has successfully showcased its development initiatives through Beijing and Shanghai. The State should showcase Bangalore in the same way to attract investment'

Mr Ravi Uppal

Bangalore March 9 "Bangalore could be a great incubator; the growth of tier-II cities in Karnataka should be fuelled with the support of Bangalore," said Mr Ravi Uppal, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, ABB Ltd, at the annual session of CII-Karnataka here on Friday.

Addressing delegates during a public session on `Bangalore as an engine for inclusive growth', he said that the growth of Bangalore and other places in Karnataka are entwined. He urged the administration both at district and town levels to budget growth physically rather than financially.

China had successfully showcased its development initiatives through Beijing and Shanghai and the State Government should showcase Bangalore in the same way to attract investment in the State.

Mr Uppal also lauded this year's financial budget for addressing many issues that had been marginalised so far. "If we really need to put inclusiveness on the fast track, we need to raise agricultural income for farm workers and farmers with small land holdings; improve infrastructure connecting rural and urban areas, and also those in the rural areas; create better opportunities in the rural areas; and provide basic amenities for rural people to lead a decent life," he said.

Social divide

Speaking at the session, Mr A. Ravindra, Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board, said the disparity among the urban population was a matter of serious concern, which if not addressed, would affect the growth of cities.

"The divide is not merely economic, but there is a social divide too which is much more difficult to tackle," he said. He stressed the need for decent affordable homes for all; "even the lower and middle middle-class don't have access to affordable homes today," he said.

Besides the economic and social angles, one aspect that is largely ignored is the cultural disparity/diversity that exists in the city. "An inclusive growth for Bangalore would mean we take into account all the aspects of language, culture, etc," he said.

He urged the industry to look beyond Bangalore; there are 200 cities in Karnataka, and development should spread to these centres, he said. "Otherwise, the quality of life in Bangalore would be affected," Mr Ravindra said. It is only the public-private-people partnership that would ensure inclusive growth, he concluded.

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