Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Sep 18: Dakshina Kannada district in-charge secretary M N Vidyashankar said that 'Mangalore-1' service centres that will work on the lines of the 'Bangalore-1' service centres, where the citizens will get several essential services under a single roof, will start functioning in five places in the city by the end of November this year. He was speaking at a press conference held here on Thursday September 17, after attending the review meeting of various departments in the city.
Well-equipped service centres will be opened in Bondel, Urwa Store, Suratkal and two other places. The people will be able to pay various bills and taxes, book railway and bus tickets and deliver their complaints. A total of 29 services including the government and private ones, will be covered through these centres, which will work round the clock. Based on the public response, steps will be taken to open more such centres in the city, said Vidyashankar, who also is the chief secretary of the department of personnel and administrative reforms.
He revealed that 53 such centres presently functioning in Bangalore are transacting an annual turnover of Rs 1,500 crore.
Vidyashankar also elaborated on a plan to develop famous pilgrimage centre, Subrahmanya, with an investment of Rs 180 crore. The temple already has funds to the tune of Rs 84 crore, and the first phase of works involving Rs 60 crores will be taken up on priority. It has been decided to meet the entire project cost of Rs 7.5 crore required for underground drainage, by the temple. Out of Rs 11.95 crore required to set up Mescom sub-station at Subrahmanya, discussions are on with Mescom to convince them to meet 50% of the cost, he added.
Vidyashankar explained that different estimates have been sent to the union government, requesting for funds for repairing different stretches of the national highways here, and that works will start as soon as funds are sanctioned.
On the issue of running of KSRTC buses upto State Bank, he said, because of density of traffic, at present these buses will be permitted to ply till Jyoti circle. Once the central bus stand is shifted, the problem will end, he noted.
He also revealed that the company from Japan, which has been entrusted with the task of removing oil and other fuel from the drowned 'Asian Forest' ship, has been asked to start work immediately.
Additional deputy commissioner Prabhakar Sharma was present.