The Hindu Business Line : Kanara chamber pitches for better infrastructure

The chamber said that the district would witness huge growth as public sectors undertakings and private companies are planning huge investments in the proposed special economic zone (SEZ) and various other developmental projects. Mr A. Srinivasa Rao, KCCI President, who presented the chamber's plans for 2005-06 at a press conference here on Saturday, said that the need of the hour is to form a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to develop the Mangalore SEZ. "We have approached the Government of Karnataka for setting up a public limited company to take care of the issues connected with the establishment of a multi-product SEZ, and also the appointment of a nodal officer for the project," he said, adding that the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) would be part of the SPV.

Since the second runway at the airport is likely to be operational by March 2006, the KCCI will try to ensure that international operations, especially to West Asian countries, begin from Mangalore airport. "We are approaching some of the airlines for operating from Mangalore," he said.

The chamber is also pursuing the completion of the Mangalore-Hassan railway gauge conversion. Mr Rao hoped that the passenger train service between Mangalore and Bangalore would begin in January.

Seeking the formation of a separate Mangalore Railway Division under the South Western Railway Zone, he said the Mangalore railway station is the highest revenue-generating station under the Phalghat division of Southern Railways.

The chamber will submit a proposal to the Government, calling for the conversion of Mangalore-Mani-Mysore and Mangalore-Hassan-Bangalore routes into six-lane national highways.

Mr Rao added that KCCI has forwarded a proposal to the Konkan Railways for the introduction of a sky-bus service in Dakshina Kannada district. The Mangalore Urban Development Authority has been asked to come out with a technical feasibility study on the project.

The cruise traffic should be increased at the New Mangalore Port by providing better infrastructure. He urged the port to construct an additional berth to meet the needs of exporters from the Dakshina Kannada district. Mr Rao announced that the KCCI-Exim facilitation centre for export promotion would be inaugurated in November.

Stating that tourism has not been developed to the expected level in Karnataka, he said that KCCI would request the Government to provide a tourism circuit status to Dakshina Kannada district. This will enable tourists to visit various areas in the district.

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