Union Minister Shobha Karandlanje lays foundation stone for national highway in Udupi
Udupi, Sep 30: Union Minister of State for Agriculture Shobha Karandlanje on Friday laid the foundation stone for the Malpe-Molakalmuru four-lane road which is to be constructed at a cost of Rs 355 crore.
Addressing a gathering, Karandlaje said the Central government was according priority to the development of coastal Karnataka. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has already released funds for the four-lane road here and said that no toll would be collected from commuters on the highway.
She said the upgradation of the road would help tourism and business. Officials and contractors should work on a warfooting to complete the road work within two years, the Minister said.
Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat, who also spoke, said the Parkala-Kadiyali road on the Malpe-Molakamuru NH is in the final stages of completion. The Centre has embarked on such a developmental project without imposing a toll, he said.
He wanted the people to cooperate as about 85 per cent of land in Malpe need to be acquired for the developmental work.
Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon, coastal development authority president Mattar Rathnakar Hegde and BJP Udupi district president Kuiladi Suresh Naik were among those present at the function.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
