Trauma centres to dot Golden Quadrilateral

CABINET DECIDES

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today gave its approval for establishment of an integrated network of trauma centres along the Golden Quadrilateral and the North-South and East-West Corridors of the national highways.

This would be done by improving the trauma care facilities in 140 identified state government hospitals. Twenty hospitals would be upgraded to Level I trauma centres, 40 to Level II and 80 to Level III trauma centres at a total cost of Rs 732.75 crore during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan period.

Setting up of the network will ensure that each accident victim on these corridors is able to get medical assistance in time. In fact, the draft policy on road safety, which the Ministry for Road Transport and Highways is currently finalising, also carries a proposal on the same lines.

The CCEA also approved the development of harbour wall berths at the Mumbai port at an estimated cost of Rs 353 crore. The work would be taken up by the Mumbai Port Trust through its internal resources. The project is scheduled to completed by February 2010.

After the completion of the project, the Mumbai port will be able to handle larger, deeper and wider vessels.

In another decision, the CCEA cleared the Marketing Support and Services Scheme, under which handicraft artisans will get marketing support to the tune of Rs 316.81 crore during the Eleventh Plan period.

"The money would be used for domestic and international marketing and for publicity of the products of these artisans. Under the scheme, handicraft artisans will get enhanced opportunities to access domestic and international high-end markets and various marketing channels. This will enable them to achieve full-time employment, better returns on their products and new opportunities for employment in rural areas," Chidambaram said.

The scheme would also meet dues amounting to Rs 26.32 crore under the old Marketing Support and Services Scheme, including the erstwhile export promotion scheme implemented during the Tenth Plan period.