Mohan Kuthar/Nithinraj Kotian

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 13: "We have directed Navayuga Infra, which has been executing Pumpwell flyover project, to hand over the Pumpwell flyover soon. If the intensity of rain does not worsen, the flyover at Pumpwell will be opened for traffic without much delay," said MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Thokkottu flyover, about eight years since its construction began. It may be recalled the delay in executing this project had given rise to lot of public debate and criticism, and the MP too has faced lot of flak.

Kateel said that the government has released a grant of seven crore rupees, representing the balance amount payable to the firm. He said that Navayuga Company is expected to proceed with the completion of Pumpwell flyover on a war footing. "Due to the opening of Thokkottu flyover, vehicles going to Kasargod, Talapady, Udupi, and Mangaluru can smoothly move to their destinations now. With its inaugural, the problem of traffic congestion here has been solved. When the company was mired in problems in the past on account of financial constraints, union minister Nitin Gadkari had taken the lead in ensuring that the company got a loan of Rs 55 crore, with which, the work on the flyover caught momentum since March this year. Because of legal wrangles, this project was held up for two years. We have inaugurated the flyover in spite of legal issues involved, to make sure that the people do not continue to suffer from problems. The minister, block BJP president etc have informed me about problems at Ullal bypass, Kallapu etc. I will convene meeting of officials soon and instruct them to find solution for these issues. We will begin the work of beautifying this flyover soon. There are plans to create parking for vehicles, auto-rickshaw park, toilets, gardening etc. Thokkottu flyover will be beautified on the lines of the flyovers at Suratkal and Kulur," he explained.

The MP signalled opening of the flyover by breaking coconuts on both sides of the lanes of the flyover. He also offered coconut to the Nagabrahma Katte at Kallapu praying for the safety of vehicle users coming this way.

BJP block president, Santosh Rai Boliyar, district general secretary, Satish Kumpaa, former MLA, Jayaram Shetty, district vice president, Chandrahas Ullal, leader, Chandrashekhar Uchil, Someshwar gram panchayat president, Rajesh Uchil, Talapady gram panchayat president, Suresh Alva, state executive committee member, Raveendra Shetty Ulidottu, block general secretary, Mohanraj K R, municipal councillors, Rajesh Kerebail, Geetabai, Chandrahas Adyantaya of southern railway advisory committee, leaders like Seetaram Bangera, Lalita Sunder, Chandrahas Pandit House, Prakash Symphony, Jeevankumar Thokkottu and Namita Shyam were present.

Road humps not done

The work of providing road humps at Ullal circle where the flyover ends, has not yet been taken up. Humps have also to be laid across Kallapu side of the flyover. Therefore, the traffic police have taken up initiative to regulate the vehicles for the present. Traffic assistant commissioner of police, Manjunath Shetty, asked Navayuga engineers to set up barricades on both sides of the flyover and to build humps at the earliest.