NHAI to take over maintenance of Surathkal-BC Road stretch of NH 66: MP Capt Brijesh Chowta
Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta has said that the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has approved of the proposal to hand over the management of the National Highway 66 stretch from Surathkal to BC Road to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The MP said that the stretch is currently under the limits of the New Mangalore Port Trust. “The decision to hand it over to the NHAI will ensure excellent maintenance and development of the stretch, the major corridor in Mangaluru,” said Chowta and expressed satisfaction that his efforts at providing a solution to various problems faced by users of the NH 66 stretch had proven fruitful.
“The highway leading to the port had been in very poor state and road users struggle to traverse on the stretch. I have been striving for the last one year for the transfer of the responsibility of managing the stretch to the NHAI,” the MP said.
Speaking further, Chowta said, “I raised the issue of the highway stretch during a meeting with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and urged him to direct the NHAI to hand over the maintenance responsibilities of the stretch to the Authority. Accepting the proposal, the Ministry has not only directed the NHAI to do so but also asked for a detailed project report (DPR) regarding the development and road safety measures to be implemented on the stretch as early as possible.”
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Guv Gehlot clears bill paving way for Panchayat elections through ballots
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has given his assent to the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act that will pave the way for holding the Panchayat elections through ballots instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Following the assent, the Act was notified in the state gazette on Wednesday.
The bill was passed by both houses of the Karnataka legislature in March during the budget session, amid protests by the opposition BJP.
As per the law, the principle of secrecy of the ballot is a cornerstone of free and fair elections, as recognised by the judiciary, which emphasised that the secrecy of the ballot protects voters from coercion, intimidation, and undue influence, thereby safeguarding the sanctity of the democratic process in several judgments of the Supreme Court.
Some concerns have been raised regarding the functioning of EVMs, necessitating a return to the robust secret ballot paper system to restore public trust, according to the Act.
Justifying its decision, the Karnataka government said there is “a growing consensus on the need to strengthen electoral mechanisms that prioritise anonymity and transparency”.
