Good intention behind bus fare hike, DC office construction work at Padil to be completed shortly: U T Khader

The Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker said, 'The 15% increase should be discussed. The government never intends to trouble the people.'

Mangaluru: Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U T Khader said that the work on the DC office complex at Padil will be completed shortly.

"We have set a deadline to complete the work at the earliest, so that it can be inaugurated during Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's visit to Mangaluru to inaugurate the State Olympics meet on January 17. The decision on the inauguration will be taken looking at the completion of the work by January 10," he told media people during his inspection of the work at Padil.

"Directions have been given to the officials to complete the work at the earliest. The work is being taken up at a cost of Rs 75 crore. The state government had given administrative approval for the work on April 28, 2015, the work order was issued on February 3, 2018, and it commenced on March 17, 2018. The building will reflect the Tulu Nadu tradition, and this will be continued in the exterior premises as well. The entrance gate will be made attractive," said the Speaker.

Efforts are being made to bring all government departments except revenue and RDPR under one roof, which will be convenient for both officials and the public, saving time and benefiting the interests of officials.

The building will come up on a 5.89-acre area. The total plinth area is 21,054.88 sq m. The basement will have 4043.88 sq m, ground floor - 7553.36 sq m, first floor - 4158.94 sq m, second floor and third floor - 2561.28 sq m each and roof 1 and 2 - 88.07 sq m each.

KSRTC bus fare hike

To a query on the state government hiking KSRTC bus fares by 15 per cent, the Speaker said that the government functions with the welfare of the people in mind.

He said that there may be a good intention behind the bus fare increase. "Nothing is free, as the government provides funds to KSRTC under the Shakti Scheme which offers free travel for women. The 15 per cent increase should be discussed. The government never intends to trouble the people."

To a query on MLA Harish Poonja urging the Speaker to implement prohibition of cow slaughter act effectively, he said, "Individuals like Harish Poonja just now realised that cows also have the right to live? The law banning cow slaughter was implemented by Indira Gandhi in the 1960s."

On State Cabinet withdrawing BJP's gau shala projects in each district, Speaker sought to know as to how many gau shalas have been set up after the previous BJP government announced setting up gau shalas in the state?