Ramanagara took centre stage about 46 years ago when the star-studded Bollywood film, Sholay, hit the silver screen. The movie, released on Independence Day in 1975, is a landmark film among Indian films today. With it, Ramanagara too catapulted to fame.

However, over the next couple of decades, Ramanagara remained just that – a beautiful locale where Sholay was filmed. Even though it is just about 50 kms away from the State Capital, Bengaluru, development just about chugged along.

In contrast to that, this Silk City has seen developments at jet speed in the last few years. It has transformed into a bustling business district and a hotspot for serious investors. The district has 12000 acres of notified land bank and a diverse investment portfolio in textiles, food processing, urban infrastructure, and tourism. Savandurga, Magadi Taluk is famous for its medicinal plants’ availability.

What our Government has achieved in the district is commendable. A slew of development works has been done at Ramanagara since the BJP came to power. Ramanagara Government School and First Grade College witnessed a high-tech transformation. While the Toyota Kirloskar Company helped us remodel the school, the Higher Education department remodelled the college. Both the school and the college today match world-class standards. The building has a hi-tech library, a well-equipped laboratory, and a kitchen. It also has a smart classroom for the Anganwadi children.

Here are some of our key achievements and highlights:

RGUHS university and health city at Ramanagara: Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), a premier health university for medical, dental, and other health courses in Karnataka, will soon have a campus at Ramanagara. It is just a matter of time that the university’s construction will commence, and we can see a world-class medical campus at Ramanagara. Along with the university, our government is keen on building a Health City at Ramanagara.

Hi-tech silk market: We are setting up a silk market between Ramanagara and Channapatna that stretches over 11-acre. The market will have a banking facility, lodging for farmers and separate purchasing centres for silk crossbreed and superior nicotine cocoons.

Mango processing unit: Using the latest technology, a mango processing plant over 25-acre will come up near Kailancha village in Ramanagara. Recently one of our initiative involving the Horticultural Department, Krishikalpa Foundation and Clover Ventures, we were able to ensure Rs.22 per kg more for Mangos cultivated by farmers in Ramanagara district.

Boost to Channapatna toys: To promote the world-famous wooden toys and handicrafts of Channapatna, railway stations in South Western Railway will set up stores to showcase these products. One such store has come up at Channapatna railway station. These stores will be a big booster to the local toy manufacturing cluster. During his interaction with the toymakers of Channapatna at the inauguration of the ‘Indian Toy Fair’, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi stressed the need for marketing. We are planning to take our toys to every nook and corner of the world with startups and IT companies and innovate to create global demand for the toys.

Skills on wheels Program: Industry-relevant skills for youngsters like ‘general electrician’ and ‘beauty therapist’ training is being imparted for the youths of Ramanagara under the ‘Skills on Wheels’ program.

Resolving the Labour Dispute: The Toyota Kirloskar labour dispute, which spanned over 100 days, was smoothly resolved after we intervened to protect both the employer and employees’ interests.

The neglected areas of Ramanagara and Channapatna have, under our Government, realised and witnessed how development can better their lives.

We are confident people will vote for the BJP in the city municipal council elections and end the divisive and caste politics that has marred the silk and toy city for many years.