Karnataka slashes cost of RT-PCR tests by Rs 500
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government's COVID-19 task force has decided to reduce the cost of the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests by Rs 500, Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan said on Friday.
The cost of RT-PCR tests for those referred from government hospitals to private labs have been reduced from Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,500 and for those going directly to private labs from Rs 3,000 to Rs 2,500, the DCM's office quoted him as saying after the task force meeting.
He said, at the meeting it was also decided to purchase 20 lakh new rapid antigen test kits and 18 lakh RT- PCR test kits.
Stating that the ICMR has warned about infections increasing in state capital Bengaluru, and necessary precautionary measures are being taken, Narayan said, it was decided at the meeting to purchase equipment worth Rs 12 crore to start 115 bed ICU at the KC General Hospital in the city.
All necessary measures are being taken to bring down the death rate, for which certain tests should be done.
If it is difficult to conduct such tests at government hospitals, it will done at private labs, the minister said.
"By doing such tests, the stage of disease can be identified so as to administer required treatment and thereby bring down the death rate," he said, adding that plasma therapy will be extended across the state and necessary arrangements will be made for this.
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Koppal: Municipal JE suspended over alleged Rs 10 crore works irregularities
Koppal: The Directorate of Municipal Administration has suspended a Municipal Council Junior Engineer, Somalingappa, following allegations of causing a loss of nearly Rs 10 crore through irregularities in municipal works.
The suspension order was issued on March 16, though it became public nearly 10 days later.
According to preliminary investigation, irregularities were detected in 336 works carried out between 2023 and 2025. Officials said several works were either poorly executed or existed only on paper, with bills allegedly generated for incomplete or non-existent projects.
Officials further indicated that the role of other individuals, including a former Municipal Commissioner, an Assistant Executive Engineer, and a consulting firm responsible for quality inspection, is also under scrutiny in connection with the case.
The matter had earlier been brought to attention through a complaint filed with the Lokayukta in September 2025, prompting further investigation.
