The BJP manifesto for Shivamogga district for the Assembly election that was released here on Monday focuses on strengthening connectivity and upgrading industrial infrastructure.
In the manifesto, the BJP has promised that, if elected to power, it would take measures to re-commence the airport project at Sogane on the outskirts of the city. It may be mentioned here that, the State government had acquired 670 acres at Sogane for the airport and work had commenced in 2009. The work was halted later for ‘technical reasons’.
Similarly, the BJP has also promised to complete the work related to laying railway line to link Shivamogga with Shikaripur via Ranebennur for which the survey has already been completed.
In the manifesto titled “Namma Sankalpa”, the party has promised to take measures to lay a railway line to connect Talaguppa in Shivamogga district with Honnavar in Uttara Kannada district. The project is a long-pending demand of the people here and its commissioning would ensure easy access to Mumbai for the people of Malnad region.
The manifesto was released by K.S. Eshwarappa, former Deputy Chief Minister and party nominee for the Shivamogga segment and S. Rudre Gowda, president of party district unit. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Eshwarappa said that the promise of providing title deeds for slum-dwellers in Shivamogga city over the land on which they had constructed houses had figured in the manifesto.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Gowda said that the BJP would also seek votes by promising to take measures for revival of Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant and Mysore Paper Mills, public sector units at Bhadravati.