MP urges inclusion of Mysuru in ‘urban economic zone’ scheme

Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar has submitted a memorandum to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, urging inclusion of Mysuru in the ‘urban economic zone’ scheme.

The scheme is aimed at improving modern infrastructure in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities with a population of more than five lakh, as well as in major pilgrimage centres, he said.

During his meeting with the Finance Minister in New Delhi on March 11, the MP requested that Mysuru be included in the scheme announced in the Union Budget. He said Mysuru, known as the cultural capital of Karnataka, enjoys global recognition, and that its inclusion in the scheme would further enhance the city’s development.

A request had already been submitted earlier seeking Mysuru’s inclusion in the Urban Economic Zone scheme, he added.

“When the matter was raised again on March 11, the Finance Minister assured that appropriate action would be taken,” the MP said.

If Mysuru is included in the scheme, it will provide opportunities to undertake various development projects in the city, he added.

He said that Mysuru already possesses rich heritage and environmental assets, and development projects would be undertaken in a manner that would not harm these characteristics.

Mr. Wadiyar said a comprehensive development plan for Mysuru would be prepared after discussions with experts, leaders from different sectors, public representatives, and citizens to gather suggestions and opinions.

“These initiatives will open doors for innovation and opportunities. We now have an opportunity to make our city more beautiful and developed. Let us all join hands beyond party lines to utilise this opportunity and make Mysuru globally renowned,” the MP said.

What is the urban economic zone scheme?

According to the MP, the Central Government has formulated the ‘urban economic zone’ scheme to accelerate urban development. Bengaluru, Surat, Varanasi, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Cuttack, Coimbatore, Erode and Tiruppur have already been included in the scheme. Each zone is expected to receive an annual allocation of about ₹5,000 crore, which will be used for urban infrastructure development. The projects will be implemented through a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Along with this, the Centre is also planning to implement a ‘Regional Medical Hub’ initiative.