Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, May 2: Member of Parliament (MP) Nalin Kumar Kateel on Saturday May 2 addressed an interactive session at the meeting hall of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and spoke on various plans for the city.

At the outset, Kateel said, "I had discussed various issues the last time I had come to KCCI. I could not visit here again for a long time due to my busy schedule. Mangaluru has developed in many areas and one reason for this is KCCI. The lst time I had visited, I was the MP of the opposition but now I am the MP of the ruling party."

He further said, "Today India has earned a good name, which is quite evident from the help extended by India to quake-hit Nepal. Our district has made a lot of contribution in the banking sector and in the field of education. Still, it has to develop in terms of infrastructure."

Listing out the various development works for the district, he said, "The four-laning work on Shivamogga - Mangaluru highway has been proposed at a cost Rs 1,800 crore, and the work will start by December. Half of the work on Shiradi Ghat is complete and work on the remaining 13 km will be completed shortly. Kundapur - Talapady highway work will also be completed soon. Other than the flyovers at Pumpwell, BC Road and Thokkottu, all the rest of the pending works will be completed by next year.

"In three years, all four-lane roads will be ready. The Central railway station will be developed at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore under PPP model. Urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake is trying from the state government to make Mangaluru a smart city. Since the population of Mangaluru is 4.9 lac, and the requirement for a smart city is population of 5 lac, we are trying to include Moodushedde and Gurpur and planning to acquire 400 acres, with American and Indian companies working together. A waterfront is proposed and we are searching for location," he said.

"Mangaluru needs to be developed in three ways - tourism, as there are lot of temples, churches and mosques here; second, its beaches need to be developed, and third, in terms of education and culture," he added.

"Swachch Bharat Abhiyan should be taken seriously. It shouldn't be confined for just a day but become a continuous process. It is sad that there are only three companies in the special economic zone (SEZ) but we are trying our best to get more companies here.

"The work on Lady Goschen hospital will be completed by this October. The amount that was pending - Rs 17 crore - has been released by MRPL and we are hoping that PM Narendra Modi comes to inaugurate the hospital," he said.

Regarding the proposed Niddodi power plant, he said, "I am not against power companies but I am against acquring agricultural land for the purpose. There are a lot of barren lands and we have located them. If the project comes up on such a land I will fully support it. When companies do not give alternative arrangements to displaced people, then trouble starts and people start protesting. IT companies need to come to Mangaluru as they are eco-friendly. We are also planning a special agricultural zone (SAZ). In accordance with the PM's wish, I have adopted a village in Sullia and I request KCCI to grant funds as part of social corporate responsibility (CSR), as we are not getting any special funds from the PM or the central government."

Nigam Vasani welcomed the gathering. On behalf of KCCI, he presented a 14-point memorandum to Nalin Kumar Kateel that included various demands like making Mangaluru a smart city destination, expansion of Mangaluru airport, amendement to CRZ rules in line with those existing in Kerala and Goa in order to promote tourism in the Karnataka coastal region, upgrading Mangaluru central and Mangaluru junction railway stations, four-laning of national highways and overbridges at Baikampady, Thokkottu and Nanthoor along with completion of roadwork at Pumpwell, construction of 100 Sulabh toilets as part of Swachch Bharat Abhiyan, swift completion of work on Lady Goschen Hospital, early completion of work on Sultan Battery - Tannirbavi suspension bridge, construction of at least five bridges across Netravati and Gurpur rivers in order to decongest the pressure in housing and business areas of Mangaluru, streamlining of Aadhar card centres, and so on.

Treasurer M Ganesh Bhat, vice-president Rammohan Pai Maroor, honorary secretary Ananth G Pai and others were present.