Nod to Science City near Yelahanka

The State Cabinet is understood to have given its approval at its meeting on Wednesday, to set up a Science City at Bellahalli near Yelahanka.

The Science City is proposed to come up on 25 acres of government land. The proposed city will have a planetarium and museums.

The aim is to promote Bangalore as a hub of science and scientific research. The departments of IT, BT and Science and Technology have planned to develop the city under public private partnership model.

There was no media briefing of the Cabinet meeting as the Legislature session is on.
The concept of Science City was conceived in 2002 when S M Krishna was the chief minister. But it has not materialised till date.

Besides, the Cabinet is learnt to have agreed to give about five acres of land to Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, promoted by noted scientist C N R Rao at Bellahalli.

Besides, the Cabinet is learnt to have given its nod to a proposal to increase the estimated cost of the six signal-free corridors in Bangalore.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had invited tenders to implement the projects. But the bidders had quoted 49 per cent more than the estimated cost. Hence, a proposal was placed before the Cabinet, seeking its approval to increase the cost of the projects. The total cost of the projects is Rs 450 crore, sources said.

Corridors

The corridors are as follows: Dr Rajkumar Road (Yeshwantpur Circle to Okalipuram Road), Hosur Road (Central Silk Board to Vellara Junction); Outer Ring Road (Mysore Road Junction to Central Silk Board); Old Airport Road (Vellara Junction to Kundalahalli via Whitefield), and Mekhri Circle to Hope Farm via Old Madras Road.
The Cabinet also gave five acres of land to a housing society of ‘D’ Group employees association of the secretariat and 10 acres to Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation.
The Cabinet is learnt to have discussed at length about the sand policy. But no final decision was taken. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed PWD Minister H C Mahadevappa to prepare the policy in a month's time.
CID report
The Cabinet also decided to accept the CID report on allegations of misuse of power by the then Commissioner of Youth Services and Sports K Shivaram, a former IAS officer. The CID had given clean chit to the officer.