Kalyana Karnataka Utsav: CM Siddaramaiah announces plan to develop Kalaburagi into smart city, reiterates govt’s commitment to development of the region

Kalaburagi City to be developed into a smart city with ₹1,685 crore investment, improving quality of life and attracting investment.

The State government is planning to develop Kalaburagi City into a smart city with an estimated investment of ₹1,685 crore, which will improve the quality of life for its residents and attract investment in backward districts, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said.

He was addressing the gathering after hoisting the national flag at the Police Parade ground in Kalaburagi on September 17, 2024 to mark the 77th Kalyana Karnataka Liberation Day and the 10th anniversary of the Special Status accorded to Kalyana Karnataka under Article 371(J) of the Constitution.

Mr. Siddaramaiah listed the developmental works undertaken in the region in the last 10 years and also announced a few new projects in his address.

“It has been 10 years since the 371(J) Constitutional Amendment was implemented to aid the backward Kalyana Karnataka region. After the State government started allocating sufficient funds to the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB), the region began seeing progress, and this was made possible by the efforts of All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge and the former Chief Minister late N. Dharam Singh,” he added.

Mr Siddaramaiah pointed out that from 2013-14 to 2024-25, the government had allocated ₹19,778 crores to the KKRDB, of which ₹13,229 crores were released, and ₹11,174 crores were spent.

“So far, 35,885 projects have been taken up, of which 27,264 have been completed and 8,621 projects are in progress. These numbers speak for the development of this region. In the 2024-25 budget, the State government has allocated ₹5,000 crore to the Kalyana Karnataka Development Board,” he said.

Reiterating his government’s commitment to improving healthcare and education sectors, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that a sum of ₹4,352 crores was spent between 2013-14 and 2023-24 on education infrastructure, quality improvement, and building hostels from primary school to university to eradicate illiteracy and improve literacy in Kalyana Karnataka.