The district headquarters towns of Tumkur, Shimoga and Bijapur are likely to be upgraded to the status of city corporations as they meet the relevant criteria, the state government indicated in the Legislative Assmbly today.
Urban Development Minister S Suresh Kumar said as per Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976, these three towns meet the necessary requirements, adding, the Government would take a decision once the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India officially announces population figures in June.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said the State has handed over 1,815 acres of land to the Railways in the last six-seven months for rail projects in the State. He was responding to H D Revanna (JDS), who expressed dismay over, what he called, "inordinate" delay in acquisition of land for the Bangalore-Hassan railway line. Revanna said the cost of the project which was first estimated at Rs 413 crore in 1995-96 has gone up by Rs 500 crore.
While admitting to some delay in the line work, the Chief Minister said the State government, which is meeting 50 per cent of the project cost, cannot be held responsible for the slow progress, adding, the land acquisition process is being speeded up.