Pics: Thejaswi Poojary

Daijiworld media network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Jun 6: The much challenged work on the Santhekatte overpass construction that involved the breaking of the huge rock has finally under way.

Breaking of the rock has already begun. The area surrounding the overpass construction work is largely residential and so explosives cannot be used to break the rock. The construction company is using chemical powder as an alternative to break the rock. Chemical powder will be placed inside the rock and will be exploded lightly, the engineers inform, resulting in forming cracks so that it does not harm the surrounding areas. Then the rocks will be smashed using machines in a blow-by-blow process. The process has been taking place for the last two months.

Addressing a press meet, Shobha Karandlaje, union minister of state for agriculture and farmers welfare said, “Santhekatte overpass work is getting delayed due to interruption of the huge rock. It being a residential area we cannot break it using explosives. They are using chemical powder as an alternative for explosives, which is not as effective as explosives to break the rock. The rock gets shattered partially and so the process is taking a long time. I have ordered an early completion of the work. During the rains the work may get delayed, so we will work to get it back to normal.”

The foundation work was supposed to be completed within three months, then other works were to be started, but it is getting delayed causing delay of other works.

The project is being carried out at a cost of Rs 27.4 crore. It looks like that the work might take a few more months for completion. Due to the construction work, many diversions have been devised and still every morning and evening the vehicular traffic is rising.

Lack of a bus stand is causing difficulty to the people. People are risking their lives and are waiting for buses on the national highway. As schools have reopened children waiting for buses on the national highway with heavy traffic is quite dangerous. As there is heavy traffic it takes a long time to cross the road and for students it may result in their late entry into school. During the rainy season the situation may get worse. The highway authority, police department and district authorities must see to it that no accident takes place here.