• Bangaloreans can boast of a perfect weekend family getaway, courtesy NICE (Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise) at Sompura on the expressway connecting the City to Mysore.
  It’s not just that, an exclusive film City spread across 300 acres is also on the cards.
  Disclosing this after throwing open the Freedom Park on the NICE expressway at the clover leaf junction at Sompura Village near Kengeri on Saturday, Ashok Kheny, Chairman, NICE, said that the Rs 1,000 crore project would make Bangalore the entertainment hub of the country.

Freepark , Bangalore

• “After IT and BT, the entertainment industry is the next big revolution. The project will house film and sound recording studios comparable to Hollywood standards. With facilities such as special effects, post production and animation, we hope to not just produce local films but also attract producers of English films from America and Europe” said Kheny.

• Bangalore city in-charge Ministers Katta Subramanya Naidu and R Ashok on Thursday issued strict instructions to BBMP officials asking them to ensure that the ongoing first phase of work on Freedom Park on the old central jail premises be completed in 45 days. After a joint inspection of the progress, the two ministers took the BBMP officials to task for the inordinate delay.
  The officials were questioned on the reasons for the delay and directed to clarify the same to the state government.
  

• “After the central jail was shifted to Parappana Agrahara, several projects were planned on this portion of land but the Freedom Park was the final choice.
  The work started in 2004 at an estimated cost of Rs 8 crore, was expected to be completed in one-and-a-half years. But, it has been four years now.”

• In 2006, an additional amount of Rs 8 crore was released for the pending work, but still the project had a long way to go, he said.
  Katta Subramanya directed the officials to ensure that the work was completed and ready for inauguration within 45 days.