Senior IAS officer L K Atheeq conferred 'Great Son of Karnataka Award'
Atheeq started his administrative career in Mangaluru
Bengaluru: Senior IAS officer L K Atheeq, who has a close connection with coastal city of Mangaluru, has been conferred the 'Great Son of Karnataka Award' instituted by All India Conference of Intellectuals, in recognition of his contribution to the society and to the development of the state in various capacities over the course of his career.
The award was presented at a ceremony held at Hotel Radisson Blu Atria in Bengaluru on April 12 in the presence of former Supreme Court judge and chairman of the Press Council of India Justice Chandramouli Kumar Prasad as Chief Guest. A conference on the theme 'The freedom of expression - The Constitution' was also organised on the occasion.
In his current position as Secretary of Rural Development in Government of Karnataka has brought in several changes and has initiated various projects for the Rural Karnataka. His tenure has seen drinking water, sanitation and other basic amenities accessible to people in rural Karnataka.
Atheeq, who is now serving as the Principal Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayath Raj for Government of Karnataka, has previously worked as the Director at Prime Minister’s Office and also as Joint Secretary to Former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Atheeq has also served as the executive director of World Bank for three years’ tenure in Washington DC, USA during the course of his glorious career. Upon his return from the US, he was appointed principal secretary to the then Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah.
An upright officer known for his integrity, work ethics and people-friendly approach to bureaucracy, Atheeq hails from a agricultural family from Pavagada, Tumakuru, and is married into a Mangalorean family. He also began his administrative career as assistant commissioner of Mangaluru.
About the Award
All India Conference of Intellectuals is an organization championing the cause of humanism, and was inaugurated in the year 1980 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Former Election Commissioner of India Dr G V G Krishnamurthy is the president of the organization.
Previous winners of the award include eminent personalities such as former Chief Justice of India Padma Vibhushan Justice M N Venkatachalaiah, Kapil Sibal, former governor Justice Anshuman Singh and others.
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Adani Group emerges lowest bidder for Bengaluru’s 16.75-km tunnel road project
Bengaluru: The Adani Group has become the lowest bidder for both packages of the proposed 16.75-km tunnel road project in Bengaluru, according to sources familiar with the bids opened by Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE).
According to a report published by Deccan Herald on Monday, the government estimated the entire project to cost Rs 17,698 crore, while the Adani Group has quoted Rs 22,267 crore. The ports-to-power conglomerate’s bid is about 24% higher for the first package and 28% higher for the second than the government’s estimates, a gap that could prompt authorities to seek the state Cabinet’s approval on the tenders’ fate.
M Maheshwar Rao, Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), who is also the Managing Director of B-SMILE, declined to comment.
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In all, four infrastructure companies had participated in the tenders for the project, which has been proposed under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, with 40% funding from the government and the remaining investment to be raised by the private concessionaire.
During the technical evaluation, the Adani Group and the Hyderabad-based Vishwa Samudra Engineering Ltd qualified for the financial round.
According to the report, Dilip Buildcon was disqualified due to a clause that bars firms linked to collapsed bridges or tunnels, while Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) was rejected because its joint venture (JV) partner did not meet technical requirements.
With only two companies left in the fray, the Adani Group emerged as the lowest bidder, ahead of Vishwa Samudra.
The tunnel project officially named the North–South underground corridor, is part of the Congress government’s ambitious to ease Bengaluru’s traffic congestion by building two major underground roads (totalling 40 km) along with 13 flyovers and elevated corridors.
The project is the brainchild of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru development minister.
The proposal, however, has faced criticism and political opposition, especially from senior BJP leaders, who object to the alignment that requires acquiring six acres of Lalbagh Botanical Garden, a historic green space.
As per the report, Urban mobility experts have also warned that the tunnel corridor may clash with the alignment of Namma Metro’s Phase 3A, possibly affecting the metro expansion.
