Tender for mega projects in Sept

The exercise had been delayed for over six months due to technical reasons.

Yeddyurappa, in his Independence Day address at the Manekshaw Parade Ground here, said the development of roads would be taken up on a public-private partnership model. The government had announced the road project in 2008. However, the tendering process was delayed because of poor response from private parties. The chief minister said work on building airports at Gulbarga and Shimoga had already begun. Development of Hassan and Bijapur airports and upgradation of Hubli, Belgaum and Mangalore airports was under way, he said.

The annual Plan size for the year 2009-2010 had been fixed at Rs 29,500 crore, he said, adding that the Plan size in the previous year was Rs 21,819 crore. Financial experts had applauded the increase in the Plan size, despite the global recession, he said. He announced a hike in the monthly honorarium for freedom fighters from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000. Those who took part in the Goa Liberation Movement would be given an honorarium of Rs 2,000 a month. The hike will come into effect from this month.