Budget 2026: Hubballi-Dharwad gets Skill Training Academy, Indira Canteens for students, plug & play LEAP lab

Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah proposed setting up a skill training academy at a cost of ₹200 crore, four ‘Vidyarthi (student) Indira Canteens, plug and play LEAP labs, and e-courts for Hubballi Dharwad, among other things, while presenting the State Budget on March 6.

While the Skill Training Academy is meant for providing vocational foundation and upskilling training workers registered with Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers’ welfare Board and their children, the Plug and Play LEAP Laboratory is meant for providing incubation facilities to entrepreneurs in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. The Plug and Play LEAP Laboratory is to be set up by KEONICs.

Setting up Indira Canteens for the thousands of candidates preparing for competitive examinations was one of the demands during the recent protests by job aspirants in Dharwad. The government has responded by announcing four ‘Vidyarthi Indira Canteens’.

Keeping these students in mind, the government has also proposed to set up a Digital Library and Study Centre in Dharwad, along with Bengaluru, at a cost of ₹10 crore each.

According to the budget, Dharwad will get an e-court, along with Bengaluru, Kalaburagi, and Mysuru, under a proposal aimed at transitioning to a paperless, efficient, citizen centric judicial system.

In addition, Dharwad has been sanctioned a ‘De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre’ for children below 18 years suffering from drug addiction. The centre is to be set up collaboration with Dharwad Institute of Mental Health And Neurosciences (DIMHANS).

₹600 crore has been sanctioned for acquisition of 1,000 acres of land for developing the Dharwad Industrial Node of the Bangalore-Mumbai industrial corridor, with an allocation of ₹200 crore in the current fiscal.

Like in Bengaluru, Hubballi will get ‘Matsya Darshini’ fish food joint  which is aimed at promoting fish consumption by providing clean and quality fish products to consumers.

A Haj Bhavan has been sanctioned for Hubballi, along with Kalaburagi, to provide necessary facilities and amenities to Haj pilgrims and their relatives.