The Karnataka Information Communication Technology Group (KICTG) has recommended the State government to provide a booster dose to the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector by investing Rs 2 lakh crores on infrastructure development in Bangalore and other emerging cities in the next five years.
In its report “Karnataka’s Roadmap to Undisputed Global Leadership in ICT by 2020” submitted to Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, the KICTG highlighted the need for repositioning brand Bangalore in the current scenario and, in turn, utilise the Bangalore brand to develop emerging ICT clusters in the State. It has recommended to develop Mysore, Shimoga, Tumkur, Mangalore, Gulbarga, Hubli-Dharwad, Belgaum as ICT centres.
KICTG chairman T V Mohandas Pai suggested the government to allocate Rs 70,000 crores through its budget; seek Rs 70,000 crore grant from the Centre and raise another Rs 70,000 crores through user fees to mobilise resources to fund infrastructure development projects.
Integrated plan
“If it (infrastructure development) is done, everything is done. If it is not done, nothing can be done. There should be an integrated infrastructure plan for Bangalore. Besides, the government should infuse Rs 1,000 crores to each of emerging cities. Such infrastructure support will help the sustainable growth,” he said.
The Group, comprising Pai and nine others, was tasked to recommend strategies and initiatives to the government on promoting ICT sector. It was set up by the government in June 2012.
The Group has recommended a slew of steps for the much-needed upgrading of infrastructure in the State capital, including providing 250 kms of Metro rail connectivity by 2020; mandatory use of CNG for all public vehicles; remodeling of 900 traffic junctions; development of “satellite smart cities” at Hoskote, Devanahalli, Bidadi and Electronic City on private-public partnership model; developing elevated high speed travel corridors and introducing smart grid concepts to ensure effective power supply and use of treated water for non-potable uses.
Upgrading of infrastructure is among 10 initiatives suggested by the KICTG to achieve the target growth of Rs four lakh crore revenue from the ICT sector by 2020 from the existing Rs 1.35 lakh crores and, generate direct employment to 20.40 lakhs from the existing 8.30 lakhs.
KICTG suggested government to continuing the emphasis being given to IT/BPO sector and leverage growth in emerging Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector that has national focus.
ICT-enabled generation
Besides, the KICTG suggested the government to provide a tablet with wireless and 3G connection preloaded with teaching materials to students in Class seven and above in its schools to make the future generation fully ICT-enabled. Building of “Karnataka Knowledge Network (KKN) to connect all government and private colleges with high speed bandwidth (at least 50 MB), providing laptops to all faculty and students of government colleges and making the entire Bangalore a free wi-fi zone are other key recommendations of the KICTG.
It has also proposed an organisational structure to be adopted to ensure effective implementation of all the recommendations.