Copyright thehindu
In order to reduce traffic congestion in the city and on the national highways around it, the State government has proposed a ring road connecting Talapady on Karnataka-Kerala border and Surathkal on Kochi-Panvel NH 66, said Health and Family Welfare and Dakshina Kannada district in charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao in Mangaluru on Saturday. Speaking at the district-level Rajyotsava programme at the Nehru Maidan, Mr. Rao said a scheme for the new ring road will be framed shortly. In order to attract technical talent from across the country, the government has approved setting up a tech park in the three-acre land in Derebail village of Mangaluru taluk. Apart from creating new job opportunities, the tech park will go a long way in furthering growth of the district and the State. Seven new Indira Canteens, which provide local food at affordable rates, will be set up shortly. These seven will be in addition to 19 Indira Canteens that were in operation. Construction of houses for 2,969 of the 3,541 houseless people, who had applied for it, has been completed. As many as 792 people will be allotted flats in the buildings coming up under the G+3 group housing scheme in Surathkal. The new Cath Lab at the Government Wenlock Hospital, Mangaluru, has made cardiac care affordable for people. The government has approved construction of new OPD block at an estimated cost of ₹90 crore. The government has approved upgrading of 18 government schools in Dakshina Kannada as Karnataka Public Schools where students will get quality education from nursery to II PU under one roof. Tenders have been floated for construction of District Ranga Mandira in Bondel in Mangaluru. The government will release additional grant for completing constuction of Konkani Bhavan of Konkani Sahitya Academy. The government has approved construction of Beary Bhavan of Beary Sahitya Academy at Asaigoli, near Ullal. Work on seven multi-village drinking water schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission was on. Work for development of drinking water supply in Someshwar, Bajpe, Kinnigoli, Mulki, and Moodbidri, and drainage works in Bantwal and Dakshina Kannada were on, he said. The Gruha Jyothi scheme of 100 units of free power covered 5.51 lakh beneficiaries in Dakshina Kannada. As many as 11.01 crore women have availed themselves of free bus travel facility under the Shakti scheme. Under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, 3.79 lakh women have received ₹ 1,377 crore. The Anna Bhagya scheme covered 11.76 lakh beneficiaries and each of them get additional 5 kg rice free of cost. Under Yuva Nidhi scheme, ₹9.54 crore has been paid to 5,283 unemployed youth, the Minister said. The Minister accepted the guard of honour and then gave away district-level awards to 95 achievers.
