The Phase 3 Metro projects, including Corridor 1 and Corridor 2, are expected to be completed by December 2029. Phase-2A, spanning 19.75 km from Central Silk Board to Krishnarajapura, and Phase-2B, a 38.44 km stretch from Krishnarajapura to Kempegowda International Airport, are currently under progress at an estimated cost of Rs 147.88 billion. Phase-3 Corridor-1 will cover a 32.15 km stretch from Kempapura to JP Nagar 4th Phase, while Corridor-2 will span 12.50 km from Hosahalli to Kadabagere, with an estimated cost of Rs 156.11 billion. The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) plans to allocate 30,000 housing units across 34 locations. Out of the 14,909 flats under construction in 25 projects, 10,615 have already been completed. Planning work for Dr K Shivarama Karanth Layout is progressing, and plot allotment is expected to begin soon. The Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1994, have been revised to simplify the process of granting mining leases for stone quarrying to SC/ST individuals and organizations. Regulations for sand and M-sand have also been eased to ensure accessibility at fair prices. The Integrated Lease Management System (ILMS) software was upgraded in December 2024 to streamline mineral administration. Bengaluru continues to strengthen its position as a global tech hub, hosting over 875 Global Capability Centres (GCCs), which account for more than 30% of India’s GCCs. To further boost this sector, the Karnataka Government introduced the Karnataka Global Capability Centre Policy 2024-29. Public service vehicles in Karnataka, including school buses and taxis, are being equipped with Vehicle Location Tracking Devices and Emergency Panic Buttons under the Nirbhaya Fund initiative. So far, 40,848 out of 6,04,863 public service vehicles have been equipped, with plans to extend the installation further. To address Bengaluru’s traffic congestion, the Bengaluru Traffic Police has implemented ASTRAM (Actionable Intelligence for Sustainable Traffic Management), an AI-based platform for real-time traffic monitoring and control. This system also prioritizes emergency vehicles at signals. Additionally, 2,519 students in Bengaluru have been appointed as Police Marshals, and awareness programs against drug abuse are being conducted in schools and colleges. Cybercrime now accounts for 10% of all reported crimes in Karnataka. The government is focusing on providing advanced technology and training to combat this issue while raising public awareness to prevent cyber threats. News source: ET Realty