Work on rly. overbridges to be over in two years

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, NOV. 28. The work on 50 railway overbridges would be completed within two years, the Public Works Minister, Dr. M. K. Muneer, told the Assembly today.

Replying to the questions of Mr. V. Chenthamarakshan, Mr. M. V. Jayarajan and Mr. Manjalamkuzhi Ali, the Minister said that the Roads and Bridges Corporation had taken up work on 31 railway overbridges. The proposals for 24 bridges had been submitted to the Centre, he said.

The expense for constructing one bridge would come to Rs. 5 crores. Once the bridges were completed, the State would have Central investment to the tune of Rs. 250 crores. The Government had no plans to collect toll from the bridges constructed on build-operate and transfer basis, he said.

Work on eight railway overbridges was progressing. This includes the Kollam-Perinad bridge too. The State Government has submitted the revised estimate for the Chackai bridge to the Centre for approval.

The inauguration of the new bridges would begin from May next. The first bridge would be inaugurated in Kozhikode. Work on the Aluva-Angamaly four-lane track would be over in two years, he said.

The Information and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr. M. M. Hassan, told Mr. Shibu Baby John and Mr. Johnny Nellore that the Government had plans to impose restrictions on visual media. The Public Relations Director is authorised to censor the visual media programmes but it was not being done, he said.

A code of conduct for the press is on the anvil. The Government is also keen on having discussions with the fraternity.

A new course on web journalism would be introduced at the Kerala Press Academy. Steps have been taken to end the delay in issuing accreditation cards to journalists, he said.

The Education Minister, Mr. Nalakath Soopy, told Mr. P. T. Thomas, Mr. Adoor Prakash, Mr. K. Babu, Mr. Prathapa Varma Thampan, and Mr. B. Vijayakumar, that the State Planning Board had given a report to start a technical university. A special officer would be appointed to study the issue, he said.

Special rules for appointing higher secondary school teachers through Public Service Commission would be framed soon. The medical entrance ranklist which expires on November 30 has been extended up to December 31.

The Pariyaram and Kochi Medical Colleges would be started this year itself on getting the Indian Medical Council approval. The Government, he said, has fixed the minimum salary for unaided school teachers, he said.

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