Mangalore : MLC Ivan D’Souza urged the government to upgrade the Mangalore Passport Seva Kendra with a capacity to clear 1,000 applications per day instead of 350 at present.

He also said that Regional Passport Officer will visit city on September 10 and will discuss on the various problems related to the Kendra. The police verification certificate for the passport must be accelerated, he added.

The proposal to construct Dakshina Kannada district administration complex at Alape in Padil at a cost of Rs 25 crore has been sent to State Government and it is likely to be approved. The state government has allotted the fund of Rs 135 crore for six district administration complexes and a proposal has been sent for DK district too. If the Government permits, over 25 government departments will be under one roof.

The elected representatives of coastal districts have urged the government to declare holiday for schools, colleges and government offices for ’Monthi Fest’, Nativity of Virgin Mary, celebrated on September 8 in this region.

Speaking on Ranga Mandira he said that, the estimated cost of Ranga Mandira to be constructed at Bondel has been increased from Rs 19 crore to Rs 25 crore and the work for the same will commence shortly.

Apart from it, State Youth Empowerment and Sports Minister Abhayachandra Jain has sent a proposal to set up multipurpose sports complex on two acre land near Urwa Marigudi at an estimated cost of Rs 1.69 crore.

Informing on Air India Express, Ivan said that Mangalore-Kuwait flight service will resume from October 27 and it will operate thrice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from Mangalore to Kuwait via Bahrain. The flight departing from Mangalore at 7.30 am and reach Kuwait via Bahrain at 11.15 am.

MLC said that the Congress happy over the by-election results and welcomes the people’s mandate.