Bengaluru, Apr 19 (IANS): Amid speculations about industries moving out of Karnataka, and especially Bengaluru, following social unrest, the state government is all set to acquire 22,000 acres of land to allot for new industries.
Though the state charges Rs 3 to Rs 4 crore per acre, against Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh who offer free land, the first choice of industrialists is still Bengaluru, say state Industry Department officials.
Industries Department's Udyog Mitra Managing Director, Doddabasavaraju told IANS that around 22,000 acres of land in and around Bengaluru is being purchased as there is huge demand for land in this area.
As many as 2,000 acres of land is being identified in Chikkaballapur, and Doddaballapur, the neighbouring towns of Bengaluru, he said.
The first phase and second phase are over in Devanahalli, which is very close to Kempe Gowda International Airport of Bengaluru, and 17,000 acres are being acquired for third phase here, while 12,000 acres of land are being bought for implementing 5th phase of projects in Bengaluru's neighbouring Ramnagar district.
The department will acquire 800 acres of land for the 6th phase in Dabaspet, in the outskirts of the city, Doddabasavaraju said.
Land has been allotted for Rs 14,000 crore and Rs 600 crore projects at Dharwad for EV vehicles, while Uttam Galva Steels, which had kept 4,000 acres in Bellary already, now are coming to start the iron and steel project. The implementation of these projects would change the scenario in neighbouring districts of Bengaluru, he added.
"Industries want Bengaluru's infrastructure, market, facilities, education, hospitals, employees.... They are realising that they can't establish a factory on the border and run the show. Facilities such as airport, railway network, road infrastructure, lands, climatic conditions, no litigation of land are the factors pulling industries to Karnataka.
"In terms of preparedness for export, the state is number 1 in the country and in FDI also, we are number 1... 40 per cent of FDI we are getting in the form of software, electronics, industry also is coming," Doddabasavaraju said.