Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Nov 19: At last, the long awaited process of including Sampaje-Mani stretch of Mani-Mysuru highway under national highway 275 has been completed. The process had been pending since the last several months.

The road, which is currently under Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd, stands transferred to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Henceforth, the authority will maintain the road and attend to its improvement needs.

Ganesh, chief engineer of NHAI Mangaluru division, confirmed that the Mani-Sampaje stretch of the road had been brought within the authority a few days back.

File photo

As per the time frame fixed by the department, the said road was to be handed over to NHAI during the first week of March this year. But NHAI, as per its rules, had to confirm before taking over the road, that it has been properly maintained. As the road maintenance was not in final stages then, this issue created problems in handing over. NHAI had written to KRDCL to repair the road so that it can take it over.

The state highway 88 between Mani and Mysuru had earlier been planned to be developed in three phases, and it was accordingly executed. The stretch between Mysuru and Kushalnagar was completed in 2009. The second stretch between Kushalnagar and Sampaje was completed in 2013. The third phase between Sampaje and Mani, with a length of 71.9 km, should have been completed in 2012. But this stretch was completed in 2015.

The state highway 88 which was under KRDCL had been upgraded as national highway during February 2013 and notification was issued. The stretch between Mysuru and Sampaje was officially transferred to the authority. But handing over of the stretch between Sampaje and Mani was delayed because of delayed works and non-completion of maintenance period. It took six years in total for the authority to take over this stretch of the road.

The report about the road says that drains, footpath, bus bay etc were not properly developed. NHAI is now taking steps to repair the road. The road therefore will be developed into four-lane road in course of time. This road passes through Sullia town, and several shops and commercial establishments may have to be razed to enable road widening. The people's representatives have been doling out promises about a bypass road being built to obviate this problem.

Consultants have been appointed to look into the prospects of having a bypass road here, and based on their report, a final decision would be taken, it is gathered.