HDK alleges State government of favouring NICE

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy has alleged that the State government joined hands with the promoters of the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) and allowed it to collect toll in violation of the framework agreement. Addressing a press conference in Holenarasipur, Hassan district, on Saturday, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that under the framework agreement, NICE was not entitled to collect toll from motorists. However, it had been allowed to do so, and had so far collected over ₹2,000 crore, he said. Responding to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s statement that the project was the brainchild of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Mr. Kumaraswamy said it was indeed Mr. Deve Gowda’s project, and that the government had signed the memorandum of understan