Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (JS)
Mangaluru, May 4: The work on Padil-Bajal underbridge, which was going on at a swift pace, has hit a roadblock. The problem has arisen due to flooding of drains which run parallel to the road passing through the underbridge.
MLA J R Lobo and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel on Monday May 4 inspected the area where the work is going on.
Dharmaraj from Infrastructure Development Foundation explained to the elected representatives about the main problem of flooding as the underpass level is parallel with the drains in which water flows all 365 days. He said the level of the road needs to be increased by one meter so that the drain water does not come on to the road.
After inspection, Nalin Kumar Kateel said, "Padil-Bajal underbridge is a long-pending demand of the people of this area. As there are some technical problems in this project we have come here to inspect. There is a pipeline which needs to be shifted and the MLA has asked the officials to do it quickly. We have to solve the technical problems and we have to take care that this does not create any problems regarding basic amenities like water supply and other needs."
He further added, "Work on Padil underbridge, Baikampady and BC Road overbridges will be completed by the end of this month. Thokkottu and Pumpwell flyovers will be completed by November 2016. There is a technical problem with Pumpwell flyover for acquisition of land and I have asked the MLA to do the needful, and the work will be started shortly. Rs 7 crore has been sanctioned for BC Road - Mani road work and it will be completed before the rainy season. In the first phase of Shiradi Ghat work, work on 10 km is completed and the remaining 3 km will be completed shortly."
J R Lobo said, "We have inspected this underbridge and the main problem is that if we continue the work in the same level, there is a chance of drain water overflowing on the road. So we have asked the railway officials review the problem. We will hold a meeting with the officials chaired by MP.
"The road which connects Bajal from the other side is already concreted and I have asked the officials to complete the work on the other portion by the end of this month," he added.
"UGD (underground drainage) connection can be given and it is ready now. It has been delayed for a while as I had asked the officials to make a decision on policy. The amount should be fixed and the people who work on UGD connection should not harass the public by charging more. So in this direction a policy will be chalked out," he said.
Former MLC Monappa Bhandary and other officials of Mangaluru City Corporation and the railway department were present.