Bengaluru
With Bengaluru’s population expected to double in the next 20 to 25 years, the State government has decided to invest ₹1.5 lakh crore to address the city’s growing infrastructure challenges, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Sunday.
Speaking at the 40th anniversary of BBUL Jain Vidyalaya of the Shri Mahaveer Jain Education Society and the 25th anniversary of C.B. Bhandari Jain College at Palace Grounds, Shivakumar said Bengaluru’s infrastructure needs a complete transformation. He pointed out that the city, with a population of about 1.4 crore, has nearly 1.3 crore vehicles, resulting in severe traffic congestion. “Hardly anyone uses public transport and most depend on personal vehicles. After taking responsibility for Bengaluru, I have prioritised large-scale investment in infrastructure,” he said, adding that despite congestion, people are unwilling to leave the city.
Calling Bengaluru an exceptional city, Shivakumar said it has a rich culture, immense opportunities for quality education, and a vast human resource base. “California has around 3.5 million engineers, but Bengaluru alone has 2.5 million engineers. That is our strength,” he said. Recalling a remark by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the foundation-laying of the Bengaluru International Airport, Shivakumar noted that earlier world leaders would visit Delhi first, but today they come to Bengaluru before heading to the national capital, underscoring the city’s global importance driven by education and talent.
He said Bengaluru is not just a Silicon City, but is also emerging as a health city and developing across sectors. Jain educational institutions, he added, are contributing significantly by providing quality education. Addressing students and elders, Shivakumar stressed the importance of remembering one’s roots, institutions, teachers and managements, and supporting those in need. He assured that the government would continue to support the positive contributions of the Jain community.
Earlier, Rajya Sabha member Lehar Singh urged Jain community students to stay away from excessive social media use and focus on studies. Bengaluru Central MP P.C. Mohan highlighted the growing importance of education in today’s society, while National Traders’ Welfare Board Chairman Sunilji Singh praised the Jain Education Society for its value-based education.
Society president Champalal Bhandari attributed the institution’s growth to collective support from trustees, teachers, alumni and parents. More than 2,000 people attended the event.
