UNI

Bangalore, Jun 20: As many as 19 companies in the private sector had shown interest to develop three Airports Bijapur, Shimoga and Gulbarga under the PPP model, Infrastructure Secretary V P Baligar said today.

Speaking to newsmen here he said that the state government had acquired land for the proposed airports. In future all the major highway projects would be developed under the PPP model and already the Sandur, Hospet and Belekere by-pass road works were being taken up under such mode at a cost of over Rs 110 crore.

Refuting charges that state was lagging behind in releasing its share of funds for the Railway projects, he said that every year state government was releasing between Rs 250 to 300 crore to Indian Railways. Gulbarga-Bidar, Kottur-Harihar, Mehaboobnagar-Munirabad, Mangalore-Hassan and Gadag-Bijapur railway lines were put on fast track mode to be completed on a time bound manner, he said.

Replying to a question Mr Baligar said that the introduction of Passenger services between Bangalore-Mangalore was delayed as Safety Commissioner, Indian Railways was yet give clearance.

A Conventional Center on the International standard would also come up near Devanahalli International Airport, to be constructed by the state Tourism department under PPP model, he said.