The Karnataka government proposes to set up a 40 square km integrated information technology city -- an IT investment region based on central guidelines -- near Bangalore International airport.

In his address to the joint session of the Karnataka Legislature meeting for a month-long budget session, Governor H R Bhardwaj said it has also been decided to set up sector-specific biotechnology parks in Mysore, Mangalore, Dharwad and Bidar.

He said the government's new tourism policy is expected to bring in an investment of Rs 25,000 crore over the next 10 years and make Karnataka a leading tourist destination.

Bhardwaj said the entire Bangalore metro project would be operational in three years.

Stating that the construction of the first phase is in full swing, he said work from Byappanahalli to M G Road is progressing rapidly with 70 percent of it completed and scheduled to commence operations by December this year.

"My government will ensure that the entire Metro project of all reaches will be commissioned by March 2013", he said.

To meet the ever-growing housing needs of the people of Bangalore, five new residential layouts are proposed to be developed, which would result in distribution of 1.74 lakh house sites by Bangalore Development Authority.