Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Aug 10: National Highway construction work has been getting delayed because of the inactiveness of Navayuga Construction Company. We were instructed by the officials to speed up the work and complete it by December. Padubidri bridge and Kundapur Shastri Circle flyover construction works were supposed to end by April this year. However, because of COVID-19, the works got stalled and labourers ended up going back to their hometown due to the lockdown. Now, there is a shortage of workers to complete the road construction work, said Udupi-Chikamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje at DC office, Manipal here on Monday, August 10.
Addressing the media after a review meeting with public and officials of NH and Navayuga Construction Company, Shobha said, "Considering the present situation we allowed the migrants to return to their villages. Most of the road construction workers belong to other states."
"Due to these torrential rains, water is filling up in the potholes in front of Vinayak Talkies. This has happened due to the unscientific road design by the panchayat. A letter in this regard has been forwarded to the concerned department," the MP said.
Meanwhile, she instructed officials to clear water in the said area and asked them to arrange for a machine required to fill potholes at Karavali Junction and Parkala, given that the highway witnesses the most traffic and the commuters and motorists should not face any inconvenience.
"There is no plan for a bypass road along the Hiriyadka and Onthibettu highway. As more land is required for a bypass road and we should avoid religious centres while undertaking the road construction," she added.
"A new proposal was brought in by the people of Brahmavar. They requested for an underpass that can help in crossing the road and an overbridge in Katpadi highway junction. I will discuss this proposal with the officials soon," the MP said.
Regarding the accident-prone areas around Ambalpady and Balaipade junction. Shobha stated that she would take necessary steps based on the reports by engineers and the police personnel. A report about what is the right course of action to avoid accidents in the said junction is vital, BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje said.
Apart from discussing the NH construction work, she conversed about the situation of coronavirus in Udupi district. "The number of cases in Udupi has been on a rise. There is no need for people to be alarmed, the administration has been involved in collecting more samples for random testing. On a daily basis, 1200 to 2000 samples are being collected in the district. 99% of those who passed away due to coronavirus have had underlying health issues," she added.
In the meeting, MLA K Raghupathi Bhat suggested of creating a skywalk on the Indrali railway bridge, which would assist the people in crossing the National Highway and also those who want to cross the highway to reach the railway station.
Concerning the acquisition of Malpe road officials said, "If once the land acquisition process is completed, the work of road construction can begin."
Deputy commissioner G Jagadeesha, MLA K Raghupathi Bhat, BJP district president Kuylady Suresh Naik and others were present.