10 schemes close to CM's heart may miss deadline

DHNS
October 6, 2017

Bengaluru, Oct 6: While the ruling Congress gets bullish on promoting the government’s achievements, 10 out of 18 flagship programmes of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah - the party’s face for the upcoming Assembly polls - are unlikely to meet implementation targets before the end of his tenure.

These 18 programmes or schemes are directly monitored by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). Ten of them are way behind the March 2018 deadline, according to data. These programmes are facing a predicted time delay of more than 10%, which roughly means they are, at least, months behind schedule. The CMO predicts time delay for a project going by the previous pace of expenditure.

The most lagging one is the 72-km-long Namma Metro Phase-2, a project Siddaramaiah has fast-tracked in order to be completed by December 2020.

The entire project is 77% behind schedule and the government’s target of completing Reach-2 and Reach-4 by March 2018 is unlikely to be achieved. Since February 2014, the government has spent Rs 3,725 crore on the Phase-2, but has achieved only 12% physical progress.

Similarly, infrastructure works under the Hyderabad-Karnataka Region Development Board is a dismal 74% behind schedule. Out of a total 14,893 works, only 3,467 have been completed at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore.

Construction of Citizen Service Centres (Bangalore One and Karnataka One) is another area where the government has not delivered much. Only 52 centres are operational out of the targetted 102. Based on physical and financial progress, this project is 44% behind schedule.

Other flagship programmes such as Pashu Bhagya, horticulture area expansion, Basava Housing Scheme (and other housing schemes), sports infrastructure, MGNREGA and micro irrigation are 12-36% behind the March 2018 deadline. Interestingly, data reveals that some of these were implemented well initially, but have lost closer to the polls.

Only three schemes are on track. Vidyasiri, under which poor backward class students get a stipend of Rs 1,500 per month towards accommodation, has covered 3.29 lakh students against the 3.11 lakh target.

The Niranthara Jyothi Yojane (24-hour 3-phase power supply in rural areas) has already reached 15,398 villages and is 10% ahead of schedule. Similarly, the Manaswini scheme to provide Rs 500 to poor spinsters and divorced women is closer to achieving the target.

Other flagship schemes such as Anna Bhagya, new hostels, industrial infrastructure, National Rural Drinking Water Programme and Mythri are facing minor delays.

“There is now visibility and transparency, so we know where the delays are. The chief minister will hold a series of review meetings in November to push implementation,” Principal Secretary to Chief Minister L K Atheeq said. “We are confident of achieving targets,” he added.

Comments

Naveen
 - 
Friday, 6 Oct 2017

Then let us declare more new schemes

Sangeeth
 - 
Friday, 6 Oct 2017

What about the 11th scheme where he is planning to have 70% reservation quotas= for sc/st and OBCs??????

Reshma
 - 
Friday, 6 Oct 2017

When Bhaagyas get mixed up.

The Health Scheme, they provide Henda Intravenous.
Shaadi Bhaagya, is when they mixe up with Annabhagya you get Coupons for Biryani at Indira Canteen.
Anna Bhaagya, you line up for Ration, and you win a Bride.

Henda Bhaagya is one which never goes wrong, you always get Kalbatti Sarai.

Unknown
 - 
Friday, 6 Oct 2017

What is really visible physically is lagging. The scheme " Vidyasiri" claims 3.29lakh coverage instead of targeted 3.11, looks good, hope there are no bogus claims under this scheme.

Ram
 - 
Friday, 6 Oct 2017

The ruling Khangress in Karnataka should give up costly schemes that do not benefit many for cheap popularity. If the Govt. concentrates on much needed trash management, pot-hole and speed-breaker free clean smooth well lit roads with obstruction-free clear pedestrian foot-paths and other public amenity based schemes, the party need not struggle for popularity.

Indian
 - 
Friday, 6 Oct 2017

Sidha government priority should be to fill pothole in Bangalore, infact there were no roads only potholes one could see everywhere, this laxity by govt may lead to people pay hefty price !

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News Network
December 2,2025

Puttur: The long-cherished dream of a government medical college in Puttur has moved a decisive step closer to reality, with the Karnataka State Finance Department granting its official approval for the construction of a new 300-bed hospital.

Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai announced the crucial development to reporters on Monday, confirming that the official communication from the finance department was issued on November 27. This 300-bed facility is intended to be the cornerstone for the establishment of the government medical college, a project announced in the state budget.

Fast-Track Implementation

The MLA outlined an aggressive timeline for the project:

•    A Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the hospital is expected to be ready within 45 days.

•    The tender process for the construction will be completed within two months.

Following the completion of the tender process, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the project.

"Setting up a medical college in Puttur is a historical decision by the Congress government in Karnataka," Rai stated. The project has an estimated budget allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the medical college.

Focus on Medical Education Department

The MLA highlighted a key strategic move: requesting the government to implement the hospital construction through the Medical Education Department instead of the Health and Family Welfare Department. This is intended to streamline the entire process of establishing the full medical college, ensuring the facilities—including labs, operation theatres, and other necessary infrastructure—adhere to the strict guidelines set by the Medical Council of India (MCI). The proposed site for the project is in Bannur.

Rai also took the opportunity to address political criticism, stating that the government has fulfilled its promise despite "apprehensions" and "mocking and criticising" from opposition parties who had failed to take similar initiatives when they were in power. "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has kept his word," he added.

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News Network
November 30,2025

airportmetro.jpg

Udupi: The pontiffs of Sri Paryaya Puttige Mutt, the sacred seat of Jagadguru Shrimad Madhvacharya Moola Samsthanam, have submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister seeking comprehensive development for Udupi district. 

Proposal for International Airport

A key request is the establishment of an international airport. Highlighting that around 1,000 acres of land are available and suitable, the pontiffs noted that the existing Mangalore Airport provides limited international connectivity. They suggested the airport be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) or as a Greenfield Airport to boost trade, education, healthcare, and spiritual tourism.

Metro and Rapid Transit Connectivity

The proposal also calls for Metro Rail or Rapid Transit between Mangaluru and Udupi. The 55 km coastal stretch experiences heavy daily commuter traffic, causing congestion. The district administration is ready to prepare an initial project report for a Mass Rapid Transit corridor and requested inclusion under national urban mobility programmes to ensure safe, green, and time-efficient regional transport.

Port and Coastal Development

The pontiffs urged the development of an international-standard port with a cruise terminal along Udupi’s coast. They also requested fast-tracking of pending coastal tourism projects and revising Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms to encourage sustainable infrastructure and hospitality investment.

IT, AI and Technological Infrastructure

Support was sought for an IT and AI Innovation Park with incubation facilities under Digital India and Startup India initiatives. The proposal also emphasized the need for strengthened data security and cloud computing infrastructure to boost India’s technological independence.

Sports and Education Initiatives

The pontiffs requested national sports status for Kambala, along with financial and infrastructure support. They also sought the establishment of an AIIMS in Udupi, a new IIT campus, and approval for an IIM to promote higher education in the district.

Representation to the Prime Minister

Sri Sugunendra Tirtha Pontiff and Sri Sushrendra Tirtha Swamiji represented the pontiffs in submitting the comprehensive development proposal to the Prime Minister during his recent visit.

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News Network
December 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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