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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Fadnavis rides motorcycle to Vidhan Bhavan, says PM Modi asked only for 'small sacrifices'
Mumbai (PTI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday rode a motorcycle to the Vidhan Bhavan here and later defended the Centre's austerity measures, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi has only "asked people to make small sacrifices".
He also criticised the Opposition for creating "unnecessary controversy" over the matter, adding that questioning the PM's foreign visits - aimed at strategic alliances and economic benefits - was "sheer foolishness".
Fadnavis arrived at the Vidhan Bhavan in South Mumbai on a motorbike from his residence 'Varsha', with BJP leader and minister Ashish Shelar accompanying him, to attend the swearing-in of new members of the legislative council.
The move comes as part of the measures after PM Modi's appeal to conserve fuel and foreign exchange in view of the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has disrupted global energy supplies. India relies heavily on West Asia for crude oil and gas imports.
On Wednesday, CM Fadnavis announced a series of austerity measures, including halving the number of vehicles in the convoys of his cabinet colleagues, and cancelling foreign tours of ministers and officials.
Addressing reporters here on Thursday, Fadnavis said the state government had curtailed convoys, cancelled avoidable foreign tours and decided against holding large government events for the next six months.
Targeting the Opposition, the CM said similar austerity measures had been adopted by previous governments, including during the tenures of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao, as well as by former finance minister P Chidambaram in 2012.
"The Opposition needs to show some maturity. Countries across the world have taken even tougher decisions. The prime minister has only asked people to make small sacrifices while himself taking very tough decisions. Creating unnecessary controversy over this is not appropriate," he said.
Fadnavis said he travelled by motorcycle to send a message on fuel conservation, adding that symbolic actions by political leaders help spread awareness among people.
"When leaders act symbolically in this manner, the message reaches the people. That is why I came here on a motorcycle," he stressed.
The chief minister said all unnecessary foreign visits by officials and ministers had been stopped, and efforts were underway to reduce fuel consumption and save foreign exchange.
"We have reduced our convoys. Wherever petrol and diesel can be saved, wherever foreign exchange can be conserved, we are making every possible effort," he said.
Fadnavis said a major government event scheduled in Satara on Friday would, however, go ahead as it was planned in advance and expenditure had already been incurred.
He said around 25 lakh families would receive benefits valued at Rs 10,000 crore under the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana during the programme.
"After this event, however, no large government programmes will be organised over the next six months," he added.
The CM also dismissed criticism on social media over PM Modi's foreign visits, saying overseas trips aimed at strategic alliances and economic gains for the country should not be equated with avoidable travel.
"The appeal is only against unnecessary foreign travel. It does not mean businessmen should cancel important overseas deals. Criticising the prime minister's foreign visits is sheer foolishness," he said.
