Fri Jan 02 17:38:44 UTC 2026: Okay, here’s a summary of the text followed by a rewritten news article based on the provided information:
Summary:
The provided text is a news article from The Hindu e-paper, dated January 2, 2026. The article reports on several key decisions made by the Karnataka State government in Bengaluru. The main highlight is the approval and initial funding of the Vishwaguru Basavanna Biodiversity Park, a new 153-acre “lung space” in North Bengaluru. The park, to be developed with an initial investment of ₹50 crore, will replace existing acacia and eucalyptus plantations with medicinal plants and native trees. The cabinet also approved revised estimates for the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project and the establishment of the Karnataka GST Analytics Portal. Lastly, a new bill was approved focusing on digitizing and mapping historical manuscripts and inscriptions.
News Article:
Bengaluru to Get New Biodiversity Park Amidst Infrastructure and Heritage Initiatives
Bengaluru, January 2, 2026 – The Karnataka State government has greenlit the Vishwaguru Basavanna Biodiversity Park, a new 153-acre green space in North Bengaluru, marking a significant expansion of the city’s lung capacity after a century and a half. The project, announced Friday evening, will receive an initial funding of ₹50 crore, with the overall project estimated to cost ₹250 crore, funded by the government and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre announced that the park, currently populated by acacia and eucalyptus, will be transformed into a diverse ecosystem featuring native trees, medicinal plants, and an interpretation center, designed to attract local birdlife.
Beyond environmental initiatives, the state cabinet also approved revised estimates of ₹16,876 crore for Corridors 2 and 4 of the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project, reflecting a commitment to improving public transportation infrastructure. A significant portion of the revised budget includes ₹357 crore from the Central government and ₹3,066 crore from the State government for land acquisition, along with ₹2,135 crore for rolling stock.
In other developments, the cabinet has sanctioned ₹19 crore for the creation of a Karnataka GST Analytics Portal. Additionally, a new piece of legislation, the Karnataka Jnana Bhandar Manuscripts and Digitilisation Bill, aims to preserve and digitize historical manuscripts, stone inscriptions, and copper plate inscriptions currently held in private collections. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil emphasized the importance of the bill for preserving the state’s rich cultural heritage.
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