CM Siddaramaiah tours across Bengaluru, inspects various works
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah toured various areas of Bengaluru on Thursday, reviewing road infrastructure and ongoing development projects. He directed BBMP officials to expedite the process of covering potholes across the city.
During a press briefing after his tour, the Chief MInister provided details on the city's road network, which spans approximately 12,878 km. Out of this, 1,344.84 km fall under the arterial and sub-arterial road categories, while the remaining 11,533.16 km belong to zonal roads under BBMP. The CM pointed out that road surfaces in Bengaluru have been damaged due to the installation of BESCOM cables, water supply and drainage pipes, GAIL gas pipes, KPTCL cables, and optical fiber cables.
To address this issue, BBMP has set up a batch mix unit to quickly repair potholes, particularly on arterial and sub-arterial roads. Additionally, Rs 15 lakh has been allocated to each ward for pothole repairs on zonal roads. Siddaramaiah emphasized that the BBMP has also developed a cool asphalt mix unit to tackle potholes even during the rainy season.
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The CM ordered that road damages caused by digging from agencies like BESCOM, KPTCL, and GAIL gas be promptly fixed. He assured that coordination between the Bangalore Water Supply and Internal Drainage Board and other departments has been achieved, regularizing the process of road repairs.
Siddaramaiah highlighted remedial measures, including the introduction of a mobile app called "Raste Gundi Gamana" (Road Potholes Focus) to monitor and ensure timely pothole repairs. Additionally, Rs 1700 crore has been approved for white-topping projects for the 2023-24 period to further curb potholes.
The CM revealed that of the 1,611 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads in the city, 459 km have been damaged. Asphalting of these roads, at a cost of Rs 659.71 crore, will begin in November and is expected to be completed by March.
During his tour, Siddaramaiah inspected several key locations, including the BDA flyover near Hebbal, asphalting work near Kariannanpalya, and metro work at KR Pura railway station. He consulted with officials at each site to ensure smooth progress.
Ministers KJ George, Byrathi Suresh, MLAs BA Basavaraja, Rizwan Arshad, AC Srinivas, and BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath, among others, were present during the inspection.
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Sambhal violence: Prohibitory orders issued, outsiders barred from entry till Nov 30
Sambhal (UP) (PTI): The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders and barred the entry of outsiders till November 30 after three men were killed and scores of others, including security and administration personnel, injured in a violence by protesters opposing a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque.
The order has been issued under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), said District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya late on Sunday.
"No outsiders, other social organisations or public representatives will enter the district border without the permission of the competent officer," said the order, which came into force with immediate effect.
Violation of the order will be punishable under Section 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the BNS.
Violence broke out in the district on Sunday as protesters opposing the survey of the Jama Masjid clashed with security personnel. The protesters torched vehicles and pelted the police with stones while the security personnel used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob.
Divisional Commissioner (Moradabad) Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said on Sunday, "Shots were fired by miscreants... the PRO of the superintendent of police suffered a gunshot to the leg, the circle officer was hit by pellets and 15 to 20 security personnel were injured in the violence."
A constable also suffered a serious head injury while the deputy collector fractured his leg.
"Three people, identified as Naeem, Bilal and Nauman, have been killed," Singh said.
Twenty-one people, including two women, have been detained and a probe has been launched, the official had said, adding that those accused in the violence would be booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).
District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya said, "The casualty count stands at three. The reason for the deaths of two is clear -- bullet wounds from countrymade pistols. The reason for the death of the third person is not clear but it will be after post-mortem."
Internet services were soon suspended in Sambhal tehsil for 24 hours and the district administration declared a holiday in all schools for Monday.
Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the Jama Masjid was first surveyed on the court's orders following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple had stood at the site.
Trouble started early on Sunday when a large group of people gathered near the mosque and started shouting slogans as the survey team began its work.
District officials said the survey could not be completed on Tuesday and was planned for Sunday to avoid interference with afternoon prayers.
Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who is a petitioner in the case, had earlier said the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) ordered the constitution of an "advocate commission" to survey the mosque.
The court has said a report should be filed after conducting a videography and photography survey through the commission, he had said.
On Sunday, Jain urged the Archaeological Survey of India to take control of the "temple".
Gopal Sharma, a local lawyer for the Hindu side, had earlier claimed the temple that once stood at the site was demolished by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1529.
