David Cameron sells Mumbai-Bangalore corridor dream

Zeenews Bureau

Mumbai: Having arrived in India with the largest trade delegation taken abroad by a British Prime Minister, David Cameron on Monday pitched forth a mega plan to unleash the ‘potential’ of the 1000 km corridor between Mumbai and Bangalore. Kicking of his three-day visit at a meeting with business people and workers at Hindustan Unilever Limited, Cameron said, "It would unleash India`s potential along the 1,000 km from Mumbai to Bangalore, transforming lives and putting British businesses in prime position to secure valuable commercial deals." Cameron wants British companies to help India develop the corridor, generating investment projects worth up to $25 billion. And he has come prepared. “With me I`ve got architects, planners and finance experts who can work out the complete solution," he said. As per reports, British and Indian officials had been working with business representatives from the two countries on the Mumbai-Bangalore project since last year. By 2030, if realised, the project could generate close to half a million jobs, while indirect jobs could bring the total in the region to two million, Cameron`s office was quoted as saying. The first phase of the project would involve investment in physical infrastructure, such as transport networks, telecommunications and power generation. Later construction would concentrate on social infrastructure such as welfare and education. India is already developing 24 new industrial cities along a 1,483 km (920 mile) railway line between New Delhi and Mumbai with Japanese funding, however, the project has progressed at a slow pace. This is Cameron’s second visit to the country since he took over the mantle, with the first being soon after assuming office in May 2010. In Delhi, Cameron will hold comprehensive talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues.