Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and MP from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Shobha Karandlaje on Thursday asked the Railways to investigate the increasing cases of theft in trains plying on the Konkan Railway route.
Speaking at the meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee in Udupi, he said that the Railways should take serious evasion cases and take measures to prevent them.
The minister said that the railways should install CCTV cameras at all railway stations along the route and in coaches. Lockers should be arranged on the coaches.
She said she would discuss the matter with railway officials in Delhi.
Ms Karandlaje asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to install signals at Katpadi, Udupi and Padubidri traffic junctions to prevent accidents and regulate traffic. He said that the highway widening project between Karavali Junction and Malpe should be started at the earliest.
The Minister asked the officers of Horticulture Department to distribute high yielding cashew grafted plants to increase the income of the farmers.
The Chief Executive Officer of Udupi District Panchayat informed the meeting that the government has started the development work of 75 water bodies in the district under the Kere Sanjeevani scheme. Out of them 15 projects have been completed and 60 are in progress. An action plan has been prepared to construct 963 footbridges, which will be completed by the end of this year.
Bridge
Later, the minister laid the foundation stone for construction of an overpass at Santhekatte Junction on National Highway 66 in Udupi at an estimated cost of ₹21.26 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that the project would be completed at the earliest.
The minister said that more than 4,500 vehicles pass through Santhekatte junction daily. To get rid of the problem of jam, people are demanding to make an overpass at the intersection. He later directed the NHAI officials to work in three shifts daily and complete the project at the earliest.
Ms. Karandlaje said that an overpass would be built at Ambalpadi junction on the same highway at an estimated cost of Rs 22 crore.