Udupi: State transport minister, D C Thammanna, said that the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus stand work which is underway at a total cost of Rs 31.34 crore here will be completed within 18 months.

He was speaking to media persons after inspecting the ongoing construction work of the bus stand at Bannanje here on Friday, November 16.

The minister explained that the new bus stand will have two-storied commercial complex with a provision for having multiplex. He said that he has instructed the concerned to ensure high quality. He added that in the KSRTC depot here, asphalt covering will be replaced with concrete slabs at a cost of one crore rupees. “The bus stand in the city is being upgraded at a cost of four crore rupees, and 70 percent of works have already been completed. We have brought Rs 45 crore grant to this district,” he explained.

He said that it is proposed to build bus stands in the newly created taluks at a spot close to the taluk offices for the convenience of people.

The minister also travelled by private bus from Mangaluru to Udupi to find for himself the conditions. When appreciating service and cleanliness, he resented high speed movement of the buses. He said that Kundapur depot would be rebuilt at a cost four to five crore rupees and bus stand will be built at Byndoor at the spot already identified.

He visited KSRTC bus stand at Bejai Mangaluru and discussed with officials.

KSRTC divisional controller, Deepak Kumar, divisional traffic controller, Jaishanth, and regional transport officer Ramesh Varnekar were present.Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister U T Khader said that the government is planning to come up with a new policy for the construction of frequency towers.

Addressing media here on Saturday November 17, the minister said, “Today we see a number of frequency towers and mobile towers installed at various places, but there is no standard policy governing the installation of such towers. Towers, many a time, are installed in highly populated areas and very close to educational institutions which result in more trouble to the public as well as the students,”

He also said,” With regard to towers, none of the departments has any data. In some areas despite opposition from the locals, local bodies and gram panchayats, the matter is referred to higher level and towers have been installed. There are specifications for their construction, like foundation strength and system of the towers. In several cases, we can see towers upon the building in some areas which do not appear to be safe. So our government is coming up with a policy on frequency towers. This will be discussed in the meeting and notification will be passed,”

“We have organised Revenue Adalat successfully and most of the files have been cleared during the Adalat. I have questioned the officials about delay in clearing the file. When some people meet the officials in Adalat, these files are cleared within a week. Every taluk revenue department follows different systems. There has to be some coordination and uniformity so that such files are cleared immediately,” said Khader.

When asked about slaughterhouse row, Khader said,” I have written a letter to Prime Minister to clarify with regard to slaughterhouse row, but i have not got any reply so far. Even the local representatives have written a letter to me opposing the slaughter house,”