Unified visa for GCC countries by 2014

Dubai, Aug 27: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) plans to launch a unified visa for tourists visiting the region by mid-2014, aimed at simplifying travel formalities for visitors.

“The plan to have a GCC tourism visa, similar to the Schengen visa in Europe, is about to be implemented after obstacles have been cleared,” media reports quoted security sources as saying.

With the help of a new visa, Arab and foreign tourists could visit all GCC member countries which include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

A single-entry visa should be valid for one month while multiple-entry visas could be issued for one year, reports said, adding that the conditions for obtaining the GCC visa include presenting evidence of sufficient financial resources.

“There are some technical issues that are being addressed now and the GCC visa could be issued in mid-2014,” reports said.

Foreigners who are not allowed to enter a GCC country for legal reasons and those who had been deported will not be issued the unified visa.

However, sources said that the unified GCC visa would not cancel the existing system of a single GCC country visa.

“The GCC visa is expected to reinvigorate tourism, business, shopping travel and economic activities in the member countries,” they said.

Gulf nationals can travel to any of the GCC countries without visas and upon presenting an identity card while most foreigners need to apply for visas ahead of their travel.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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