Karnataka Cabinet Approves Rs 80 Crore Delhi Facility for IAS Aspirants, Healthcare and Bus Upgrades
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Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced on Saturday that the state cabinet has approved the construction of a dedicated Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi for civil services aspirants, among other key decisions. The new building, estimated to cost Rs 80 crore, will exclusively serve students preparing for competitive exams such as the IAS, IFS, IRS, and other central services. It will offer accommodation and study facilities, with half the seats reserved for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates, while the rest will be open to students from other categories.
The cabinet also approved a restructuring of Karnataka's administrative presence in the national capital. A revamped Resident Commissioner's Office will monitor central government projects and schemes, track benefits secured by other states, and strengthen the state's engagement with the Union government. Shivakumar said the state is considering appointing retired IAS, IPS, and IRS officers in Delhi and plans to establish a dedicated legal cell to coordinate Supreme Court cases and other important litigation involving Karnataka.
In healthcare, the cabinet cleared a 200-bed super-speciality hospital at the Yadgir Institute of Medical Sciences, with an administrative approval of Rs 100 crore. It also sanctioned around Rs 18 crore for six infrastructure projects at the Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences and approved Rs 60 crore for equipment upgrades and facility improvements at the Government Medical College and Research Hospital in Bengaluru.
To strengthen public transport, the cabinet approved the purchase of 620 new buses worth approximately Rs 235 crore. Of these, 400 BS-VI buses will go to the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, while 220 buses will be allocated to the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation. The government also sanctioned Rs 112 crore for the development of 11 electric bus depots under KSRTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC as part of a Centre-supported initiative.
The cabinet granted regulatory exemptions for silk-rearing units, cattle sheds, and poultry farms in rural areas, but not in urban regions including Bengaluru. On bus fares, Shivakumar said the government is studying a Transport Department proposal, noting that rising fuel costs and a difference in diesel procurement prices between private operators and state transport corporations have created financial pressure on public transport undertakings. The cabinet also approved an urban development project in Kalasapura village of Gadag, costing around Rs 20 crore, under a cost-sharing arrangement. Responding to concerns over the proposed Bidadi township project near Bengaluru, Shivakumar said it continues decisions from previous governments, with land acquisition following legal procedures.
📰 Source: Sahil Online