Bengaluru: The state can look forward to a Dhirubhai Ambani Centre for Excellence for Innovation and Research in Aerospace at Whitefield and expansion of the Udupi power plant to more than triple its power generation, going by the promises made at Invest-Karnataka -2016.
Reliance group chairman, Anil Ambani, who is in the city for the investors' meet, announced the establishment of the Dhirubhai Ambani Centre , which will be set up under Reliance Defence.
Explaining that it would generate more than 1500 skilled jobs and support the government’s plan for indigenous design, development and manufacturing of defence equipment, he said the centre would be the first of its kind in the private sector in India, providing world class facility for research, development and innovation in aerospace technology.
The Reliance Group has already invested Rs 5000 crore in Karnataka in various sectors including telecom, energy, entertainment and financial services, providing 5,000 jobs, he noted.
Founder of Adani group of industries, Gautham Adani announced the Rs 11,500 crore expansion of the Udupi power plant, which it acquired in 2015. The plant is presently generating 500 MW and supplying power to nine million households. The plan is to up its production to 1600 MW.
“With expansion of this plant we have decided to supply power to 20 million households. We have also decided to expand the coal carrying capacity to 10 million tonnes with an investment of Rs 500 crore in the Udupi plant and to generate 600 jobs,” Mr. Adani said.
The Adani group also promised to invest Rs 7000 crore in a 1000 MW solar power plant in Karnataka. “ We have decided to invest Rs 2000 crore in the Tadadi port in North Karnataka as well,” Mr. Adani added.
Union Surface Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari announced that his department would invest one lakh crore to upgrade national highways in the state and build a green tunnel at Shiradi Ghat.
“By the end of the year, work will commence on construction of 4000 kms of highways in Karnataka at a cost of Rs 60,000 crore. Another Rs 40,000 crore will be used for highway upgradation in 2017,” he said.
