Channapatna wooden toys display. Representative image.
(DH Photo
New Delhi: Bengaluru Rural BJP Lok Sabha member C N Manjunath on Wednesday said that Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has assured him that he would explore the plan to set up a Toy Park along the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, near Channapatna.
Manjunath, who met Gadkari here, appraised the Minister about the problems faced by popular Channapatna toy makers after construction of expressways and requested him to set up a park to revive the toy business in the area.
"Gadkari immediately asked the officials concerned in the National Highway Authority of India to explore the feasibility of setting up a park along the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway," Manjunath told reporters here.
In the memorandum, he said that "Thousands of skilled artisans from Channapatna are involved in the toy-making industry, and this is the main source of income for most of the households. Earlier Bengaluru Mysuru Highway used to pass through the heartland of Channapatna city, where there were a number of outlets through which artisans used to sell their toys/arts to the tourists/commuters passing through the highway."
After the new Bengaluru- Mysuru Express constructed toys business was severely hit as many places have no access to the nearby roads where shops are located, Manjunath said.
Setting up an exclusive Toys Park along the New Bengaluru - Mysuru National Highway will revive the toys business and will create employment opportunities for local communities, he said.