Karnataka govt gives administrative approval for constructing automated driving test track in Puttur
Puttur: The Karnataka government has granted administrative approval for the construction of an Automated Driving Test System (ADTS) track under the Puttur regional transport office in Dakshina Kannada district.
The project, estimated to cost Rs 7.88 crore, will be built on 5.4 acres of land in Mundoor village, located around 10 km from Puttur town, as reported by The Hindu on Wednesday.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bengaluru, will oversee the construction of the ADTS track, designed for two-wheelers and light motor vehicles. This facility is expected to streamline the process for driving licence applicants in Puttur, Belthangady, Sullia, Kadaba taluks, and Vittla hobli.
Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai hailed the government’s decision, noting that this will be the second ADTS track in the district, with the first one located at Mudipu near Mangaluru. Rai further emphasised that the new ADTS would significantly boost economic activity in the region, as it would cater to a larger population of aspiring drivers, added the report.
Rai mentioned that the 2024-25 State Budget had proposed to establish ADTS tracks in several locations, including Udupi, Chikkaballapura, Nelamangala, Madikeri, Madhugiri, and Hunsur, along with seizing yards at Devanahalli and Tumakuru. However, the land designated for the Udupi track was classified as a deemed forest, preventing the Transport Department from acquiring it for non-forestry purposes.
Thus, Rai approached the Transport Department with a proposal to establish the ADTS in Puttur, instead of Udupi. The MLA visited Mundoor village to identify suitable land to establish the track.
The upcoming ADTS complex in Puttur will include test tracks for light motor vehicles (LMVs) and two-wheelers, an administrative block, a toilet, a control room, and necessary infrastructure such as compound walls, water and power supply, and landscaping, the report noted.
Rai further expressed hope that construction would begin soon, now that the project has received administrative approval.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
