The Karnataka Cabinet on Saturday, 20 June approved the creation of a new Praja Seva Department to handle public grievances, alongside a sweeping package of health and transport investments totalling over ₹600 crore. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced the decisions after the Cabinet meeting at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.

Praja Seva Department: What It Does

The new department is designed to provide structured, time-bound redressal of citizen complaints arising from civic issues and public movements. A dedicated minister will head the department, supported by a senior IAS officer appointed to examine grievances and provide necessary information.

'Our government's objective is to understand people's difficulties and respond to them within the framework of the law. This initiative is intended to ensure justice for citizens,' Shivakumar said.

Petitions submitted to the Chief Minister and other ministers are also being considered for inclusion under the department's purview. District in-charge ministers will be required to hold weekly public grievance meetings with local legislators, with issues reviewed periodically.

Building Electricity Connections: Key Relaxation

The Cabinet approved a relaxation allowing all buildings completed on or before 31 May 2026 to obtain electricity connections. Building owners will have 15 days from the date of the government order to apply by submitting photographs and GPS records.

The concession extends to rural structures such as sericulture sheds and cattle sheds. However, newly constructed buildings will not be eligible for this relief.

Health Infrastructure Investments

On the health front, the Cabinet greenlit construction of a 200-bed super-speciality hospital on the campus of the Yadgir Institute of Medical Sciences at an estimated cost of ₹100 crore. Administrative approval was also granted for six civil works projects at the Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences at a cost of ₹18 crore.

Additionally, medical equipment worth approximately ₹60 crore was cleared for the Bengaluru Medical Research Institute Hospital, bolstering the state's secondary and tertiary care capacity.

₹235 Crore Bus Purchase and Transport Expansion

In a major push for public transport, the Cabinet approved the purchase of 620 new buses at a cost of ₹235 crore. Of these, 400 buses will be deployed in rural areas, while 220 buses will be allocated to the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC).

An additional ₹112 crore has been earmarked for establishing electric bus depots at 11 locations across various state transport corporations. The Cabinet also cleared ₹30 crore for a modern bus stand at the Sandur taluk headquarters.

Karnataka Bhavan-IV for UPSC Aspirants

To support students preparing for the UPSC and other competitive examinations, the Cabinet approved ₹80 crore for the construction of Karnataka Bhavan-IV in New Delhi through the Karnataka Bhavan Welfare Board. This facility is expected to provide affordable accommodation and study infrastructure for aspirants from the state.

The breadth of Saturday's Cabinet decisions signals the Shivakumar government's push to demonstrate administrative delivery ahead of the state's next electoral cycle.