The Karnataka government is moving to simplify rules for establishing the proposed Mangaluru IT Park under the PPP model
Belagavi
Information Technology and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge has said that efforts are underway to simplify procedures and promote investment in the proposed Mangaluru IT Park, planned under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model. Speaking during the Assembly’s Question Hour at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, he emphasized that Udupi, Mangaluru and Manipal have immense potential for investment and job creation, making them suitable for establishing a commercial IT office park.
Responding to a question from BJP MLA Dr. Y. Bharat Shetty, the minister informed that tenders have already been invited for setting up the IT Park at Derebailu (Blueberry Hills Road) in Mangaluru’s Kasaba Hobli. The contract includes designing, building, financing, operating and transferring the project over a 30-year period. The tender bidding process is scheduled for December 15, he said.
Kharge added that before finalising the project, consultations were held with IT companies, educational institutions, entrepreneurs and local representatives from the three cities. Based on these discussions, Udupi, Mangaluru and Manipal have been grouped into a single cluster to attract investments and boost employment opportunities.
Raising the issue, Dr. Bharat Shetty said the IT Park is crucial for Mangaluru’s economic development, but the requirement to deposit 50% of the land value poses difficulties for developers, as banks may not provide loans under such conditions. He requested the government to reconsider this policy, especially when it comes to projects on government land.
Responding to this concern, Minister Kharge stated that the tender process scheduled for December 15 will go ahead as planned. After the bidding is completed, the government will review the policy if necessary, ensuring the project remains viable and beneficial for the region.
