K’taka govt plans to establish water metro, water transport museum, experience center in Mangaluru
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Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the presentation of the 16th budget on Friday announced that the state government is planning to establish a water transport museum and experience center in Mangaluru under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Alongside this initiative, efforts are underway to boost maritime infrastructure with projects that include an international cruise terminal, a water metro, and a coastal berth in Mangaluru, said the CM.
Similar developments are planned in Manki port, Uttara Kannada district, while Honnavar is set to become a hub for shipbuilding.
Additionally, river cruise tourism projects are being considered to enhance the region’s water-based transport and tourism potential.
Meanwhile, the CM also clarified land acquisition process for the Karwar Naval Base Airport is in progress, with construction expected to begin within the year, supported by allocated grants.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
