Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Oct 18: "A plan to lay six-lane national highway in Padubidri downtown in the future has been conceived. For this purpose, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has sent a proposal to central government,recommending construction of over-bridge at Padubidri," said advisor to National Highways Authority of India, Ravi.
He was speaking at the special Gram Sabha convened at Padubidri to discuss problems arising out of highway four-lane work on Tuesday October 17. The meeting was held at the gram panchayat office here. Ravi explained that even after the road is widened into four-lane one, vehicular density is set to increase, and therefore the authority has planned for over-bridge.
Ravi noted that already 45 metres of land on either side of the highway has been taken over for highway widening. "Out of this land, two highways of nine metres each, 1.2 metre divider, two service roads of six metres each, and two-metre drain, will come up. The remaining five metres would be utilized for future plans. The road will be elevated by three feet while the road bend to Kudremukh state highway will remain as it is. On north and south sides, 500 metres of service roads would be built. There will be diversions near Kamath Petro Bunk and Buntara Bhavan to the highway," he stated.
The people present demanded for laying of service roads between Padubidri and Beedu in Hejamady. They pointed out that because of absence of service roads, vehicles are being driven on the wrong direction, giving rise to several accidents. They therefore demanded for construction of service road here.
However, the special Gram Sabha on Tuesday failed to arrive at a consensus on problems arising out of highway widening work. Officials of NHAI and Navayuga company, which has bagged contract for road works, did not participate, and the officials present were found to be wanting in providing proper answer to queries raised by the general public. This gave rise to dissatifaction among the people. Therefore, it was decided to hold the meeting again, in the presence of higher level officials.
Gram panchayat president, Damayanti V Ameen, vice president, Y Sukumar, taluk panchayat member, Dinesh Kotian, and panchayat development officer, Panchakhari, were present.