Bengaluru, 16 June

Biocon founder and Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Tuesday praised Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's vision for Karnataka, saying he is committed to transforming Bengaluru into a world-class city and the state into a leading economic hub.

Speaking after a meeting of Bengaluru's honorary consuls with the Chief Minister, Mazumdar-Shaw said the group backed the government's initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure and strengthening Karnataka's global engagement.

"I think the Chief Minister is very committed to developing not just Bengaluru, but Karnataka, and making it both a world-class city and a leading state in the country," she told reporters.

She highlighted projects such as the proposed tunnel road, elevated corridors, the Peripheral Ring Road and improvements to the Outer Ring Road, saying Shivakumar was determined to accelerate their implementation. She also praised the government's efforts in garbage and solid waste management and urged citizens to be more civic-minded.

Shivakumar, in a post on X, said a delegation of honorary consuls led by Mazumdar-Shaw met him at Vidhana Soudha to discuss strengthening Karnataka's engagement with the international community and creating new opportunities for investment, innovation and economic growth.

The praise marks a shift from last year, when Mazumdar-Shaw publicly criticised Bengaluru's poor infrastructure and Shivakumar hit back. The two later met, mended ties and have since worked together on issues concerning the city's development.