Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

 
Mangalore, Jun 27: A National Highway Authority meeting presided by the DK MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, in the presence of Sriram Mishra, project director of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Dr Prashanth, assistant commissoner, engineers and officials of Navayuga Construction company, people's representatives and the general public, was held here on Thursday, June 26 in the circuit house conference hall.

Various grievances from the people's representatives and the public was heard by the MP and officials, relating to various issues and problems pertaining to national highway stretch between NITK Suratkal and BC Road and Mulky to Talapady.

BC Road

A public representative from  BC Road complained to the MP about traffic woes caused by tje highway in the town since the last about three years and expressed concern at the fact that no actions have been taken to address them. The service road running parrellel to the highway at BC Road junction stretch was supposed to be seven and 12 metres width, but nowhere in the stretch of the service road this width has been maintained, he pointed out. This problem has indeed seriously affected the traffic management in the junction, where traffic chaos has been common, he added. The situation has come to such pass that all the policemen of the local station are compelled to stand in the junction to clear off the traffic jams, he stated.

There are no proper facility in the bus stand, storm drains to clear rain water has not been constructed as per requirement, and accumulation of rain water in the roads adjacent to the dividers, petty shops under the over bridge etc were some of the problems raised by him.

Responding to these points, as per the demands of the MP, Mishra said the main reason for the traffic jams is due to the fact the service roads are narrow. Since land acquisition was not possible in the junctions due to presence of many shops and buildings, the service road could not be widened. If the government approves for the proposal of land acquisition and widening of service roads, this problem can be solved, he said.

Kateel futher directed the officials to look into the issue very seriously and do the needful, especially with regardto the traffic snarls. He directed the engineers and the officials to shift the bus stand to the KSRTC depot nearby, so as to make the service road clear and free of heavy vehicles, and also to put concrete or interlocks, so as to allow the buses to be parked clear of the road and not on the road, which at present has been creating traffic bottlenecks.

He also urged them to construct a small circle across in the BC Road bypass, for easing movement of traffic at this point.

As the railway over bridge is under construction, traffic problems will come down once the bridge is completed and a a circle is constructed there, said Mishra.

Kateel further urged the engineers to clear off the water storage in the middle of the roads at the earliest, so as to avoid any major accidents in the coming days, to which the engineers promised to do the needful at the earliest.
 
Farangipet

A local complained with regard to the problems faced by the non completion of storm drains across the highway, as the waste water is entering the compounds of three houses in the locality. The NHAI has served acquisition notices to three shops in the locality, while several neighbouring shops have not been served with such notices, he said. He further urged the MP to construct a foot bridge across Farangipet Junction as it will be useful to many commuters there, duly noting that the foot bridges built at Thumbe and Kannur are of no use and no one uses them.

Responding to this, Kateel urged the officials to move a proposal for the construction of foot bridge. He also asked the engineers to conduct a fresh survey and remove all the shops or buildings that are to be acquired, or if not, to retain all the shops, if at all it is not required and to look into the drain problems seriously.
 
Padil

The local corporator complained that Padil Circle has been constructed in a very unscientific manner and that it is posing danger to the commuters as it creates confusions. Due to the half done drains at this road, rain water flows on the road itself, especially below the railway bridge in Padil, he pointed out

Responding to this issue, Mishra said the Padil circle has been designed to the best way possible, in the available land there. If it has to be made better, then more land acquisition is needed and if the government gives the permission, then it can be done, he said.
 
Pumpwell

As traffic jam is one the major problems at this circle, Kateel directed the traffic inspector to ask the buses to stop their vehicles a little far from the circle, so as to avoid major blockages, responding to which, the traffic inspector said as the circle too big and the total road width is small, the traffic problem is caused frequently.
 
Thokkottu

Traffic jam here has been chronic especially in the recent days, because of the construction of a huge box-like structure in the middle of the road and the construction works has been stopped halfway. The local representative urged the engineers to remove this box and let the traffic to flow smoothly as the construction has anyway been stopped.

Responding to this, Mishra said such boxes have to be mandatorily constructed to avoid collapse due to movement of heavily laden vehicles which might move on the edge of the railings. And on the recent visit and inspection, SP and DC have urged to allow the vehicles to be sent from inside the bus stand, to avoid traffic problems at the junction, he added.

Kateel directed the AC and the engineers to visit the spot along with the local representatives, so as to check as to what best can be done to solve the traffic issues.
 
Pumpwell- Nanthoor Highway

The major issue raised by the public of this locality is that there are no dividers across to the whole stretch between Pumpwell to Nanthoor. Responding to this, the MP, officials and the traffic inspector declined to consider their request, as any divider between the stretches is likely to increase the fatal accidents in the area.
 
Nanthoor Circle

Responding to the traffic issue raised by the local corporator of the locality, Mishra said a proposal has been submitted for a construction of over pass across the circle. Approval has been granted and the same is now waiting for the tender proceedings, and the work on this is expected to start in three months, he added.

Traffic inspector urged the officials to take up temporary steps until then, so as to allow smooth flow of traffic. Kateel urged the engineers and the officials to visit the spot together and check for any such possibility.
 
KPT Junction

Mishra said the constriction of over bridge is not possible here due to various scientific reasons, meanwhile Kateel directed the traffic inspector to deploy three more staff in the junction as one policeman is found to be grossly inadequate to control traffic there.
 
Kottara Chowki

Local corporator urged the engineers to set right the service road and the drains on priority basis, reminding them that this issue has been brought to their notice often. Mishra said the base of the service road is not hard enough and that every time they patch up  with bitumen, the road crumbles, hence reconstruction of road duly constructing a strong foundation has to be done, he said.
 
Baikampady and Suratkal

Service road, traffic management and drains were major issues in this area, Kateel noted, and directed the engineers to visit the spot along with the locals, for a detailed study on the issue and the get the works done.
 
After having a look at all these issues and problems, Nalin Kumar Kateel said there are mainly two types of issues at present, the ones which need immediate attention and action, the others which need government approvals and will take time to be implemented.

He further directed the officials to be quick with regards to the major issues like traffic management, making service roads motorable, meeting demands of the people, and to send proposals to the government and also take into account practical issues also need to be given importance, he said.
 
Zilla panchayat vice president Satish Kumpala, leaders Chandrashekar Ucchil, Chandrahas Ullal, corporators Sudhir Shetty Kannur, Revathi, Roopa D Bangera, Harish Kumar and Vijay Kumar Shetty, Sathyajeeth Suratkal, Devdas Shetty, Diwakar Samani, Raj Gopal Rai and others were present.