CM D K Shivakumar announces 'Praja Seve' dept, new Karnataka Bhavan in Delhi

Bengaluru, Jun 21: Chief minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday announced the establishment of a new 'Praja Seve' department, aimed exclusively at addressing and resolving public grievances. The state cabinet also approved the revamping of the Karnataka resident commissioner's office in New Delhi and sanctioned the construction of Karnataka Bhavan-IV, a dedicated facility for students from the state preparing for competitive exams in the national capital.

Briefing the media post the cabinet meeting, Shivakumar detailed that the 'Praja Seve' department will be headed by a separate minister, with a senior IAS officer appointed to scrutinize petitions and ensure coordinated redressal. "District in-charge ministers will hold weekly public grievance meetings with local MLAs, with follow-up reviews to monitor the resolution of issues," the chief minister explained.

Announcing a major restructuring of the state's administrative and legal presence in New Delhi, the chief minister stated, "A dedicated team of serving and retired IAS, IRS, and IPS officers will be constituted to help secure more Central schemes for Karnataka by identifying opportunities, monitoring applications, and studying successful models adopted by other states."

Further bolstering the state's representation, Shivakumar recently appointed his long-time aide, Jobin Joseph, as his official personal representative in Delhi. Operating in a pro bono capacity, Joseph will handle coordination between the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), political stakeholders, and central agencies.

The cabinet gave its nod to construct Karnataka Bhavan-IV in Delhi at an estimated cost of Rs 80 crore. The new building will accommodate students preparing for UPSC and other competitive examinations, with 50 per cent of the rooms reserved specifically for students belonging to SC and ST communities.

Boost to transport sector

The government has cleared the procurement of 620 new buses at a cost of Rs 235 crore. This includes 400 buses dedicated to rural routes and 220 for the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC). Furthermore, Rs 112 crore has been allocated to develop electric bus depots across 11 locations, and Rs 30 crore will be utilized to construct a modern bus stand at Sandur.

Addressing a proposed revision of bus fares in light of rising diesel prices, Shivakumar assured that a final decision would be taken balancing the public's interest with the financial viability of the KSRTC.

Electricity connections and political nominations

The cabinet announced a special 15-day window for residents to secure electricity connections for all buildings completed prior to May 31, 2026. Applicants must submit a photograph of the building along with GPS records. Rural cattle sheds and silk-rearing houses have been exempted from these stipulations.

Politically, the cabinet has authorized the chief minister to nominate members to the five MLC seats scheduled to fall vacant in July, as well as to various cabinet sub-committees.

Other key cabinet decisions:

• Rs 100 crore sanctioned for a 200-bed super-speciality hospital at Yadgir Institute of Medical Sciences.

• Approval for six civil works worth Rs 18 crore at Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences.

• Rs 60 crore allocated for the procurement of medical equipment for the Bengaluru Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI).

• Clearance for a Rs 19.69 crore housing project in Gadag-Betageri, which will be executed under a 50:50 farmer-authority partnership model.

• The deadline for the voluntary land pooling of 1,777 acres in Devanahalli has been extended until October 31.