Harshini Brahmavar

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Oct 14: Finally, work of the much demanded four-lane concretization of the 10 km stretch of NH 169 A from Karavali Junction to Devinagar in Parkala at a cost of Rs 98.46 crore has started.

Bhandarkar’s Constructions of Ujire has taken the tender for this project. A ready mix concrete plant is being set up at Devinagar in Parkala for this purpose. This plant has been brought from Germany at a cost of Rs 8.5 crore and it will take some days before the plant becomes operational.

The Malpe-Thirthahalli project work is going to be completed in six phases. Now the land acquisition from Kadiyali to Parkala is taking place at a fast pace.

The first phase work of 16 km road construction between Thirthahalli and Megarahalli has already started. In second phase, the Karavali Bypass, in third phase, Adiudupi to Malpe, in fourth phase, Hebri to Parkala, in fifth phase Megarahalli to Agumbe and in sixth phase Agumbe and Hebri work will be taken up. The full work is expected to be completed by 2021.

Half a km of the national highway from AGM Circle is already dug for the purpose and diversion is given for smooth vehicle movement. However, when Daijiworld contacted Manjunath Nayak, assistant, NHAI, Sringeri division, to get more information on the project he declined to share any details. Moreover, when Daijiworld asked him about the information with regards to the progress of the work, Manjunath replied in a sarcastic manner and said, "We had spare time, so we dug the national highway,"

Land acquisition is not yet started at Parkala bus stand area, which is called as the bottleneck of this project. The online process is completed. Gazetted notification of the same has to be done by the government in order to start the land acquisition work. Once the curved road here will be straightened, it will reduce the length by 800 meters.

This is a central government project and the road widening work had to take place long ago. However, the public is accusing that this work is taken up now with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Out of the 10 km stretch of national highway, more than 80% is government land. So only the rest needs to be acquired.

At present, there is a railway over-bridge at Indrali, which is 10 meters wide. During the widening of the road, an over-bridge of 12-meter width will be built on a parallel road to this. The agreement between NHAI and railway has taken place and NHAI will do the extension work of the over-bridge after the map of the same is approved by the railway department.

In addition, as the details of this project are still not very clear to the public, people who have encroached the government land since 50 years and carrying out small businesses are naturally concerned about losing their livelihood. Also, the beginning of work has sent shivers down the spine of building owners who have thrown rules to air while constructing the buildings by the roadside. The digging of the road at AGM Circle is causing confusion to vehicle drivers who are coming from far off places as this road is turned into one way now.

The people of Udupi feel that this work will cause issues in traffic as the possibility of further rains is looming large at present. Though the work has started in a hurry during sunshine, if it rains, it will create a havoc to the traffic plying on this stretch.

There is political move behind every work in our country. However, all public works have to be done after listening to the woes of the general public and also taking them into confidence. People are unaware as to what development works are going on in their own city. The number of accidents has increased in the recent past and the diversion near AGM-Kunjibettu Circle may add one more agony to the vehicle drivers.

The digging of the road will also create confusion for tourists who come to Manipal via Kalsanka. The answer given by NHAI official that, no information has to be shared to the media as per the orders of the civil engineer shows the stance of NHAI towards the issues and concerns faced by the people.