1.42 cr rupees subsidy to purchase taxis released

1.42 cr rupees subsidy to purchase taxis released

Mangalore Today News Network

Manipal, Oct 21, 2014 :     Speaking after distributing taxis to 36 beneficiaries at the DC’s office complex, Udupt,  Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake has said that Rs 1.42 crore has been released to provide subsidies to purchase taxis for 71 beneficiaries belonging to OBC, SC/ST communities in the district.  

The minister said that each beneficiary would receive subsidy amount of Rs two lakh. The funds are released by the tourism department. Currently 36 beneficiaries have received the benefits. The remaining beneficiaries will receive the subsidy amount shortly.

He said undivided Dakshina Kannada district is hub of tourism. Citing an example of Krishna temple, Kollur temple, Athur Church, Kaup light house, thousand pillars Basadi, Jomlutheertha, he said they attracts a large number of tourists.

Maravanthe beach in Udupi district could be a best spot for introducing water sports as it accommodates sea on one side and river on the other side. Once upon a time Goa dominated the tourism sector, however currently Karnataka and Kerala are also moving with greater pace to exploit the available tourism potentials, he added. Pointing at the elaborate tourism plans adopted by Kerala, the minister stressed that the state government should also move in the similar direction to make tourism a profitable sector.  He added that schools in Kerala teach tourism as one of the topic. Autorickshaw drivers and taxis are imparted training in the hospitality sector through the centres instituted for the purpose, he added.

The beneficiaries were selected through a separate committee. Out of 71 beneficiaries, only 36 were given the taxis, while the remaining will receive taxis shortly, as they are yet to furnish the bank formalities. As many as 56 applicants from SC/ST communities and 52 from backward class communities had applied for subsidy amount for the purchase of taxis.