Urban News

The Hindu - Karnataka 17.08.2009

Corporation to widen 22 roads

Staff Correspondent

— Photo: R. Eswarraj

MAKING A POINT: N. Yogish Bhat, MLA, addressing the Central Market Merchants’ Association meet in Mangalore on Sunday.

MANGALORE: The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) has identified 22 roads in the city for widening, according to N. Yogish Bhat, MLA.

A survey was being conducted in this regard, he said after inaugurating the annual meeting of the Central Market Merchants’ Association here on Sunday.

The roads identified for widening included Bhawanthi Street, Car Street, Mannagudda-Bunder Road, and Mahamai Temple-Dongarakery Canara High School Road, Mr. Bhat said.

The Government, through the city corporation, would concrete some major roads here at an estimated cost of Rs. 125 crore. Concreting of some roads had been completed, some were under way while the work on a few others would begin after the projects at hand were completed, he said.

Mr. Bhat, who is also chairman of the Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation Ltd. (KSIIDCL), said that the Government was examining a proposal to lay a 38-km-long ring road in the city. The KSIIDCL would soon conduct a survey in this regard. In addition, the Government had planned to construct a marine aquarium park at Tannirbavi and a rope-bridge across the Gurpur between Tannirbavi and Sulthan Bathery to attract tourists, he said.

Mr. Bhat said that a team of officials, comprising the Director of the Department of Tourism and the Managing Director of KSIIDCL, would visit the city on Monday and conduct spot inspection for taking up the three projects. Personnel from the Coastal Karnataka Development Authority would also join the team, he added.

Ring road

According to the plan, the proposed 100-ft-wide ring road will branch out on either side of the Nethravathi bridge at Ullal and meet at Gurupur bridge at Kulur on the National Highway 17. It would connect NH 17, NH 48 and NH 13. The KSIIDCL would conduct a survey in this regard. This project would have to be taken up under public-private- partnership (PPP) model. The ring road would help reduce traffic congestion in the city, he said.

The MLA said that construction of marine aquarium park would require Rs. 250 crore. This project also would have to be taken up under PPP model.

Mr. Bhat said that there was a need to construct a super speciality hospital here under PPP model to help the poor. Patients could be offered services at 50 per cent of the treatment cost. Construction of the hospital would require Rs. 200 crore, he said.

J.I. Kittur, Joint Director, Department of Prosecution, and Law Officer in the Office of Director General and Inspector General of Police, Bangalore, was felicitated on the occasion as he had served as public prosecutor in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts till recently.

President of the association K. Shashidharan and general secretary Hameed Kandak were present.

The Hindu - Andhra Pradesh 17.08.2009

ITC-GVMC pact for dry garbage collection

Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM: Entering into an agreement with multi-business conglomerate ITC, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) on Sunday formally launched collection of dry garbage in an experimental basis in Zone III. About 30 per cent dry garbage produced in the city will be used in making paper by recycling it. After a 15-day extensive campaign the implementation will commence on September 1.

Launching the programme at Rani Chandramani Devi Hospital, Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao said in Zone III people should stock dry garbage like papers, plastic, iron and other metals in the special covers provided by ITC which would be collected after paying for it. If the scheme turned out to be successful, it would be implemented in phases all over the city. The scheme envisaged people’s participation in protection of environment.

Visakhapatnam (South) MLA Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao lauded the plan to dispose of garbage in an environment-friendly manner even as money was given for it.

Commissioner B. Sridhar said the successful implementation of the scheme would reduce garbage by 30 per cent in the city, save space in the dumping yard, manpower utilisation and fuel for transportation.

ITC Vice-President (Commercial) B.V.S. Joga Rao said dry garbage would be collected at the rate of Rs.2 to Rs.4 a kg. for recycling and making paper. This would save the felling of trees for making paper and help in restoring ecological balance. Agreements have been entered into with Hyderabad and Tirupathi municipal corporations besides 25 other civic bodies.

Play staged

Publicity material was given away and a street play staged on the occasion. Additional Commissioners S. Krishna Murthy and P. Purnachandra Rao, Chief Medical Officer (Health) D. Abbulu and local corporator Muttu Paiditalli participated.