World class ‘Wayside Amenities’ to be developed around 600 locations

Parliament has passed the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2021. The Bill seeks to set up a National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions to regulate and standardize the education and practice of allied and healthcare professionals. The functions of the proposed National Commission include framing of standards for education and practice, creating and maintaining an online Central Register of all registered professionals, providing basic standards of education, and providing for a uniform entrance and exit examination. Under the legislation, only those enrolled in a State Register or the National Register as a qualified allied and healthcare practitioner would be allowed to practice as a allied and healthcare practitioner.Replying to the debate in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Union Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that the legislation will increase employment opportunities for the allied and healthcare professionals and provide dignity to their valuable works. He said, there is an immense demand for the qualified healthcare professionals and the legislation will provide necessary impetus in providing affordable healthcare to the people. He thanked members for supporting the Bill.

-The Gujarat government announced to set up coaching centres for students who wish to crack the entrance exams for IITs, IIMs and medical courses. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani made the announcement during the budget session of the state Assembly on Wednesday. Rupani said a separate allocation has been made in the budget for the first time to set up coaching centres, in collaboration with professional coaching firms. These institutes will be set up in four major cities namely Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat. Rupani said students are required to crack entrance tests like JEE and NEET to get admissions to IITs, IIMs and medical colleges. Proper coaching is the key to make sure that maximum numbers of students from Gujarat crack these exams. Students from all classes and categories will be admitted at these coaching centres through an entrance exam, where candidates from poor families will be given preference.

-In a major move to improve commuters’ experience on National Highways for both passengers and truckers, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will develop world class ‘Wayside Amenities’ at more than 600 locations across 22 states in the next five years. Out of these, 130 are targeted for development in 2021-22. NHAI has already invited bids to develop 120 such wayside amenities. As per plan, wayside amenities will be developed every 30 to 50 kilometer  along the current and upcoming Highways and Expressways.The amenities will include numerous facilities for passengers such as Fuel Station, Electric Charging Facilities, Food Court, Retail Shops, ATM, Toilets with shower facility, Children Playing Area, Clinic, Village Haat for local handicrafts etc. NHAI will develop these wayside amenities across the country with a combined area of over 3,000 hectares. These will offer huge opportunities for investors, developers, operators and retailers. Currently, NHAI is offering Wayside Amenities on Public Private Partnership model for development and operation on existing highways. NHAI will develop these wayside amenities across the country with a combined area of over 3,000 hectares. These will offer huge opportunities for investors, developers, operators and retailers. Currently, NHAI is offering Wayside Amenities on Public Private Partnership model for development and operation on existing highways. 

-Minister for Road Transport and  Highways Nitin Gadkari has  emphasised that the country needs development but there is a need to maintain ecology and environment as well. Gadkari said this while addressing Virtual National Roads and  Highways Summit with “Focus on Green Infrastructure” on Wednesday. He  talked about the key features of green highways, and said that these highways work towards goals of reduction in greenhouse gas emission, carbon footprint, and the use of non-renewable energy sources.He said steps have been taken to ensure conservation of water, like rain water harvesting, and artificial ground water recharge system along the National Highways. And use of solar power is being made mandatory for all toll plazas. He said, the Ministry has taken a decision to add 10 per cent  plastic or rubber in the modified bitumen for road and bridge construction work, which is very important from an environmental point of view. He said that the Ministry is also planning to use coir and jute carpet in road construction.

-US Senate has voted to confirm Indian-American Dr Vivek Murthy to be President Biden's Surgeon General, handing the administration one of its top public health officials amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Senators voted 57-43 to confirm the Indian American as Biden's surgeon general.In a tweet, Dr Murthy said he is deeply grateful to be confirmed by the Senate to serve once again as the Surgeon General. 1977 born Dr Murthy served as the Surgeon General under the Obama administration from 2014 to 2017. He is a distinguished Physician and former Vice Admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.