Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Oct 30: Work on conducting extensive repairs to Shiradi Ghat stretch of the national highway that was proposed to begin on December 1 this year may be hit with delays. It had been announced months in advance that the ghat road will remain closed for six months beginning December 1, but the fact that alternative roads are yet to be announced by the district administration has given rise to doubts that there may be delay in starting work.

This road has often been in the news because of frequent damages and gas tanker accidents. A high level meeting relating to this issue is being held at Hassan next month, where a clearer picture is expected to emerge.

In the past, plans to build a 20-km road comprising of tunnels and bridges to enable vehicles to cruise through the ghat section at high speed on straight road had come up. This project not only provides easy driving convenience for vehicles, but also cuts short the distance by several kms. Although the state and central governments had evinced interest in this project, it was found impossible to pool grants because of exorbitant cost involved with it. Even plans to execute the project with private-public participation had been mooted, but problems of finance had stymied the idea.

It has now been gathered that Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) has come forward to invest about Rs 2000 crore in this project (Rs 100 Cr for each km). The company plans to complete the entire project in about five years and recover the cost thereafter through toll charges.

Japanese team consisting of three experts namely Nashreen G. SINARINBO, Ryuichi OIKAWA, and ONO Masazumi had detailed met MLA J.R. Lobo, Mayor Mahabala Marla and members of the chambers of commerce and other important persons regarding the development of New Four Lane Road in Shiradi Ghat to connect Bangalore by way of tunnels.

Official confirmation in this regards is awaited.