Maharashtra state highways to get 400 toilets

The Maharashtra government has decided to construct a total of 400 toilets along its state highways, in the coming years. In order to do so, the state public works department (PWD) has identified 160 locations so far which can be used for the purpose.
The department has also received 40 proposals from three public sector oil companies to set up the facility at the proposed petrol pumps coming up along state highways. The rest of the spots will be identified with the help of the state revenue department.
Moving ahead with its 2017 decision to construct more toilets along the highways, the state has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with three public sector oil companies — Indian Oil Corp. Ltd (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) to develop toilets along with other facilities such as ATMs and restaurants on the land to be given by the PWD on lease.
“We will construct 160 toilets along state highways in the coming days. One will be able to locate them through a mobile application,” Chandrakant Patil, state PWD minister said on Monday. “The agency that will construct the toilets will also be responsible for their maintenance and security for the next three years. We are planning to appoint women self-help groups to manage the maintenance,” he added.
A senior PWD official said that while they have received 40 proposals from the oil companies, they expect that number to go up to 100.
The toilets will be constructed at an interval of 100kms (approximately one and a half hour travel time) on the entire stretch of state highways. “We are also in the process of identifying the rest of the spots with the help of the revenue department which owns most of the government land in the state,” the official said.
-
HC quashes BBMP’s demand of ₹69 lakh from 150-year-old school
The Karnataka High Court has quashed the notice of ₹69 lakh in betterment charge the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) demanded from the 150-year-old Good Shepherd Convent here. The school sought to build an additional four floors on an existing 100-year-old building on its campus. But the BBMP calculated betterment charge on the entire 23 acres of land. The Good Shepard Society/ School stands on 23 acres “in the heart of the city.”
-
After resigning as Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council, Horatti joins BJP
Senior politician Basavaraj Horatti, who recently resigned as the Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council and MLC, on Wednesday joined the BJP. He joined the party in the presence of C C Patil among others, former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, BJP national General Secretary C T Ravi, Ministers R Ashoka, Govind Karjol, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. He is likely to be fielded as the BJP's candidate for the upcoming MLC polls from West Teachers' constituency.
-
IT professional found dead inside Noida flat: Police
In a suspected case of suicide, a 32-year-old IT professional was found dead inside his rented apartment in a group housing society here, police said on Wednesday. The body was found hanging from a rope inside the fourth-floor apartment of the society in Sector 74, under Sector 113 police station limits, on Tuesday night, officials said.
-
The elephants are allowed to bathe twice a day, which often goes up to three times during severe heatwave. Their day goes by rolling in the mud pond and bath pond. And the time to leave from here is decided only at their own will. Visitors can often spot the white tigress, Rani, lounging in the open. And whenever in her enclosure, she too gets coolers to keep her cool.
-
Calcutta HC orders ex-WB education minister Partha Chatterjee to face CBI today
The Calcutta high court on Wednesday ordered former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation by 6 pm today in connection with the alleged irregularities in recruitment of teachers and group D staff in government schools.