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Mangalore: Delayed Highway Widening Work - Ircon GM Explains Reasons

  •   Wed, Jul 22 2009 03:11:13 PM

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 22: General manager of Ircon International Ltd, V G Suresh Kumar, dwelt in detail about various problems his company had to face while executing the highway widening work contracted to it between Suratkal and Bantwal. He spoke at length, about the challenges the company faced in executing the widening work of national highway 17, at a programme organized by the city chapter of the Institute of Engineers and the city branch of the Institute of Valuers at Hotel Woodlands in the city on Tuesday July 21.

The company entered into an agreement for the execution of highway development work for a stretch of 37.47 kms, on May 31, 2005. Work was started on June 16 and the company has got the time extended up to December 2009 for the execution of the works, he explained.

"The specific area where the company faced lot of hardships was the non-involvement of the locals. As the local people never approached the work sites or took interest in it, the personnel had to get every information or assistance from outsiders.  Nowhere else, both in India and abroad,  we faced utter disregard to the works by the local people. The other major issue was shifting of the essential services like electricity, water supply etc. More than road works, we had to turn our attention to shifting of water supply pipes, electric cables, telephones cables etc. Mescom refused to shift the power cables even though the Highway Authority was prepared to foot the cost, saying that they do not have the resources needed for the same. Even the roadside trees had to be cut down by Ircon," he explained.

"The highway stretch had not been repaired for five years and we had to repair the potholes and heavily damaged portions on our own. Because of the land acquisition-related problems, works have been held up at different stretches. Because of this problem, Nantoor fly over works have been suspended. Some clauses in the agreement barred us from utilizing some available resources from here. Human resources shortage aggravated the problem. Because of the issues concerned with the soil quality, we had to make changes in the plans and Kuloor over bridge is held up because of this particular issue," he explained.

Institute of Engineers local chapter president J Mascarenhas, honorary secretary Umesh Bhat, Institute of Valuers local branch president T Ramachandra Bhat and honorary secretary Cristopher M P were present.
  

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Comment on this article

  • Fernandes Francis , Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 22 2009

    People of Mangalore always comments of delay in High way work. Now for most of the readers this is quite enough justification given by IRCON for delays. Our local authorities like Mescom, MCC ,BSNL and poeple don''t co-operate for development.Finally its stopped or realigned with not as per original plans and not well developed . Unless there is accountability and our Law is made strict this sort of delays in years together will occur. With this sort of things the blame game of state & central governmnet politician take chance of blaming each other, This is INDIA OUR beloved country. Still we are happy as life goes ON with or without development.

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  • John Vas, Kulshekar/Dubai

    Wed, Jul 22 2009

    FINALLY WHAT WILL BE THE NEW DATE OF COMPLETION OF HIGHWAY. Always politicians used to give one date saying highway will be completed. These problems we citizens knew in advance but never politicians have expressed. when 5 months are pending for the completion of highway, NOW 1st time they gave real issues in the press conference. Always politicians must make a practice to be transparent in their approach towards citizens and tell the facts and not giving one DATE it will be completed and when people pressurise they will give another date it is not fair practice. Somebody must act on it if there is no understanding between govt. bodies then what we can accept from our govt., what is the use of elected representative if they do not have the capability to solve important issue like highways between ministries, it is useless to elect them.

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  • NaveenH, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 22 2009

    The GM of IRCON says that "Nowhere else, both in India and abroad, we faced utter disregard to the works by the local people. ". People of mangalore wake up and throw away your egos. I have this sort of statement many times by outsiders who work in our District. They say that the people of Mangalore are supposed to be intelligent but they fight for the silliest of reasons. It is because of this we have been exploited by Politicians. We should unite as one people and fight instead of aligning with political parties or organizations that tend to divide people. Only then will our Highways , Railways and a new threat the Nethravati river diversion project will be solved

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  • Gregory Peres, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 22 2009

    I cannot believe everything what Mr. Suresh has said . The work pace is pathetic . IRCON must be suffering from logistics . Overbridges are taking years to come up.The completed overbridges have no finish and are bumpy . Even the bridge parapets are vonky . One can see that in front of AJ Hospital .The overbridge and road at Kottara junction , minor bridge near ABCO Steel centre, Kottara ,widening of Baikampady overbridge , Surathkal flyover etc are not yet complete and may take a few years more. Can IRCON explain this setback in their work .Instead of completing the work on NH 17 first IRCON has moved towards NH 48 ! Hence there is traffic chaos everywhere on these two highways . There should be an enquiry by the central Govt on this shoddy and slow work . At this pace , only our grandchildren (20 yrs hence)may enjoy this new road from Suratkal to B.C.Road .

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