Transport Ministry invests Rs 1.16 lakh crore in Karnataka

News Network

December 19, 2020

Bengaluru, Dec 19: Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said that his ministry will invest about Rs 1.16 lakh Crore in Karnataka over the next couple of years, even as Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa urged him to expedite some ongoing projects.

He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for 25 National Highway projects worth Rs 5,459 crore covering 552 km length in what was a virtual event.

He said that 19 works costing Rs 31,035 crore under Bharatmala and other schemes were under progress. “Keeping in view the safety of road users, three works to provide protective measures on hill slopes in Shiradi Ghat on NH 75, Charmadi Ghat on NH 73 and Sampaje Ghat on NH 275 have been sanctioned amounting to Rs 115 crore,” Gadkari said, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s office here on Saturday.

A detailed project report (DPR) was approved for the construction of a tunnel for Shiradi Ghat for a length of 23.60 km with a tentative cost of Rs 10,000 crore after it was vetted by the Indian Institute of Science, Gadkari said.

“Bid document, statutory clearances and land acquisition plans are under progress,” he added.

The final feasibility report on setting up a multimodal logistics park at Muddalingenahali near Dabaspet is expected in February 2021, he said, adding that this project would improve efficiency and reduce logistics cost.

Also, three projects spanning 76 km in the Bengaluru-Chennai expressway were approved, he pointed out.

“I will direct all Deputy Commissioners to ensure speedy disposal of pending cases regarding land acquisition to speed-up highway projects,” Yediyurappa has stated.

Gadkari said the Centre would soon come out with an Ethanol Policy to benefit farmers, especially sugarcane and paddy growers. "The government is very well aware of the plight of sugarcane growers and paddy growers. Sugar and rice production are surplus in the country and therefore, the Union Government intends to encourage production of ethanol from sugarcane and rice to support the farmers," he added.

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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