Fri Mar 07 16:29:39 UTC 2025: ## Hubli-Dharwad Disappointed by Karnataka Budget

**Hubli, March 7, 2025** – The annual Karnataka state budget, presented for a record 16th time by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has left residents of Hubli and Dharwad feeling disappointed. Despite numerous appeals from local trade bodies and organizations leading up to the budget announcement, key issues remain unaddressed.

While the budget did include the sanctioning of a Global Technology Centre (GTC) with plug-and-play facilities for Hubli, and designated Dharwad as a Global Innovation District alongside Belagavi and Mysuru, this was considered insufficient. The installation of AI-enabled traffic cameras in Dharwad was also announced.

However, crucial demands were ignored. These include facilitating the establishment of an FMCG cluster, boosting the IT and BT sectors by attracting major players, and funding for a Light Rail Transit system – a proposal that had generated significant local interest. Further, requests for additional funds for the KMC-RI and Karnatak University in Dharwad were also unmet. The lack of attention to these issues has left the twin cities feeling overlooked in the state’s budgetary allocations.

Read More