Mysuru, 24 April 

A special cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah atop Male Mahadeshwara Hills in Hanur taluk, Chamarajanagar district, on Thursday approved development projects worth Rs 3,647.62 crore for Mysuru region.

The meeting, which discussed 78 issues, is part of the State government's initiative to hold Cabinet sessions across Karnataka's regions. Similar meetings were previously held in Kalaburagi, where 57 issues were discussed. Future meetings are planned for Nandi Hills (Bengaluru division) and Vijayapura (Belagavi division).

Siddaramaiah announced major allocations, including Rs 228 crore for health sector upgrades and Rs 250 crore for a new 250-bed district hospital in Kollegal. A Rs 315 crore drinking water project and Rs 210 crore for rail barricade fencing to prevent human-animal conflict in Chamarajanagar were also approved.

The Cabinet also sanctioned Rs 300 crore for tourism development, Rs 101 crore for expanding the runway at Mysuru airport, and Rs 100 crore to convert the Old DC office in Mysuru into a museum. An international cricket stadium will be built at Yelwal, Mysuru, and a Rs 15 crore sports stadium in Chamarajanagar was approved.

Rs 475 crore was allocated to fill 110 lakes in Gundlupet, while a new tourist guest house and Travellers Bungalow will be constructed in Chamarajanagar. Projects were also cleared for tribal settlement road development, rural upliftment, and works by PWD, Power, and Irrigation departments.

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar approved Mysuru City Corporation’s Rs 390 crore white-topping project for city roads.

The cabinet also announced the formation of Rachappaji, Siddappaji, and Manteswamy Development Centres in Chikkalur, Kollegal taluk, and allocated Rs 40 crore for the development of Badanavalu Khadi Village Industries Centre in Nanjangud.

The meeting began with a minute's silence, paying respects to 26 victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and the late Pope.