File FIR on complaints about pothole accidents: Karnataka HC to Home department
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed the Home Department to register FIR on complaints regarding accidents due to potholes. The HC said when such complaints are received where accidents due to potholes have resulted in injuries or death, the police should not hide behind technicalities and immediately register FIRs.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Ashok S Kinagi was hearing a public interest litigation about the alleged failure of the civic authorities in filling up potholes on Bengaluru's roads. The HC also directed the petitioner to include the Home Department as a respondent in the case.
The HC said citizens who have met with accidents due to potholes can file a complaint in the police station and the police concerned will investigate the matter. The HC reiterated its earlier order directing the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to survey the pothole-filling exercise carried out by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in Bengaluru and file a report within eight weeks.
The BBMP was directed to provide NHAI with all the relevant documents. NHAI was directed to file its report before February 3 and the hearing of the PIL was adjourned to February 6. During the hearing of the PIL on Thursday, the 'American Road Transport Services' which had challenged the cancellation of its road-filling contract by the BBMP submitted that it was withdrawing its application. The court allowed it to do so.
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Karnataka fast-tracks investment approvals, cuts red tape across key clearances: Minister Patil
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Saturday said the state government has fast-tracked approvals for investment projects and taken measures to cut red tape.
He said that since 2022, Karnataka has approved 2,028 projects worth Rs 5.11 lakh crore, which could create 7.16 lakh jobs.
Of these, Rs 69,564 crore has already been realised, generating 1.06 lakh jobs, he added.
“Karnataka fast-tracks approvals, cuts red tape,” the Minister for Large & Medium Industries said.
“Clear results of our government’s push to speed up approval processes are now evident. Not only have investment agreements been secured, but effective implementation is also underway,” he said in a post on X.
He added that simplified and swift approval processes are boosting investor confidence and providing greater impetus to industrial growth across the state.
“Karnataka’s investment-friendly environment is further strengthened by its culture of ease of doing business,” he said.
Noting that Karnataka is fast-tracking approvals and aligning departments and districts for on-ground delivery, the minister said: “We have overhauled 18 key approvals, cutting land use change clearance time from 120 to 45 days, fire NOC from 60 to 21 days, factory plan approvals from 30 to 14 days, and electrical approvals to just 10 days.”
In a competitive landscape, Karnataka is acting decisively to ensure faster decisions, fewer delays, and a truly pro-industry ecosystem, he added.
