Suvarna Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (EP)

Udupi, Apr 25: Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes laid the foundation stone for the long awaited Neelavar-Kooradi bridge at Brahmavar here on Saturday April 25.

MLA Pramod Madhwaraj, in his introductory speech, said that the state government has kept its promise made during the elections. “The funds for the bridge approved earlier for Uttara Kannada district are being used for this bridge on the basis of pressure and priority. The Aaroor-Belmar bridge is almost complete. Work on Malpe-Padukare bridge is in progress. The work on Horlali-Shirooru Muddumane bridge and one near Uppoor will be started soon,” he said.

Blossom Fernandes, zilla panchayat members Gopi K Naik, Mallika B Poojary, taluk panchayat member Umesh Naik, Kunjalu grama panchayat president Shakuntala Nayak, Hanehalli grama panchayat president Sujatha Santhosh Poojary, Neelavar Sri Mahishamardini Temple committee president Bykadi Suprasad Shetty, and engineer Chandrashekar were present. Lecturer Manjunath Achar compered the programme.

The bridge by the ports and inland water transport department, Udupi division, is being built near Neelavar Panchamikhana across Seetha River at a cost of Rs 9 crore. The bridge is 110 m long, 10 m wide, and has 6 arches. A 1.4 km long road to Neelavar and 2.1 km long road to Kooradi are being built along with the bridge.

It is said that the bridge was approved with the initiative of K Jayaprakash Hegde when he was the MP. However, his absence at the event was very noticeable.

Udupi: Seven road works worth Rs 17.65 crore initiated on single day

Local MLA Pramod Madhwaraj participated in a series of programmes meant to initiate seven road works worth Rs 17.65 crore, which have been sanctioned under 'Namma Grama Namma Raste' programme of the government.

On Friday April 24, the MLA began laying foundation stones for these road works starting from Havanje. The programme ended with Heskunda, located at the far end of his constituency. Speaking on the occasion, the MLA stated that with this, development projects worth Rs 53 crore stood initiated within his legislative constituency within a gap of four days. 'We had promised construction of four major bridges during the election campaign, and we are keeping up with our promises,' he added.

The road works which got initiation were four km road between Havanje Parari to Keelinje worth Rs 3.55 crore, 2.64 km road between Kunjalu and Halekatte Addelu including bridge worth Rs 3.05 crore, 1.74 km road between Cherkady Gundarikallu Noojinabail to Madi tribal colony cross road worth Rs 1.34 crore, 3.39 km road between Kaltoor - Kenjoor Kakkunjebail including bridge worth Rs 3.71 crore, concreting of 2.04 km road between Kokkarne Horlali Biyali at a cost of Rs 1.92 crore, 4.68 km road between Kokkarne and Maddur valued at Rs 2.62 crore, and 1.77 km road between Nalkur and Nancharu Heskunda being executed with a grant of Rs 1.43 crore.

At the Havanje programme, taluk panchayat member, Umesh Naik, panchayat president, Gowri, several people's representatives and local leaders were present. Zilla panchayat member, Gopi K Naik, and panchayat members participated in the programme held at Addeelu. Harish Shetty, Mukund Naik, K Kamalaksha Hebbar, Kittappa Ameen and others were present at Cherkady programme. Taluk panchayat member, Dr Suneeta D Shetty, Girish Kamat, and some others were present when works were initiated at Kaltoor. Local dignitaries and members of the public were present at the programmes held at Horlali and Heskunda.

All the above programmes organized on Friday were held within the limits of Brahmavar block Congress. However, perhaps for the first time, a team of party leaders from Udupi took part in all these programmes held in rural areas. Chairman of Udupi Urban Development Authority, Janardana Tonse, municipal president, Yuvaraj, several municipal councillors, office bearers of Udupi block Congress committee, presidents of various party units and other leaders took part in the programmes. This was an interesting new development and hence, evoked surprise among local people.

All these leaders travelled in a bus specifically hired for the purpose, and even the MLA was seated in this bus. The people of Brahmavar region remained confused as to whether this has anything to do with the resignation of Brahmavar block Congress president, Rajesh Shetty Birti, recently.