Bengaluru, 18 Sept

The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday granted approval to the revised estimate of Rs 618.75 crore for the development works of the Vijayapura "Greenfield" Airport. The cost originally approved was Rs 347.92 crore, and the additional estimated cost is Rs 270.08 crore, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil said.

Briefing press about the Cabinet decision, Patil said the airport will be developed in a way it facilitates the landing of big aircraft instead of only ATR aircraft.

The Cabinet has also given its approval for the purchase of medical equipment required for setting up a cardiac unit at the Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences under Public Private Partnership (PPP model) at an estimated cost of Rs 10.89 crore.

Patil said, the Cabinet has approved setting up of 10 "Towers of the Harmonious Call Blocking System" at central prisons in Ballari, Vijayapura, Dharwad, Shivamogga, Belagavi, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, and Tumakuru districts at an estimated cost of Rs 16.75 crore.

Approval was given for the establishment of 50 TPD (Tons Per Day) Bio CNG Plants each in Dasanapura, Kolar, and Mysuru Agricultural Produce Market Committees under Public Private Partnership at a total estimated cost of Rs 74.88 crore (Rs 24.96 crore per unit).

Administrative approval was given for the construction work undertaken under Package-1 and Package-2 at the campus of Mahatma Gandhi Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University at a revised estimated cost of Rs 48.43 crore.