Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Nov 13: "With the efforts of MP Shobha Karandlaje, grant of Rs 99.86 crore was sanctioned to develop the road between Kadiyali and Parkala into a four-lane road. Tender process was completed and work began in December 2018. The road passes through Parkala town where land acquisition is needed. When this process was in the concluding stage, COVID19-related lockdown was reinforced and all processes came to a grinding halt. As the land acquisition process was delayed, road works have been stalled. All the processes will be completed in a speedy manner and works will be completed by May 2021," said MLA K Raghupati Bhat.
He said that a meeting was convened at B M School Parkala with the participation of national highway officials and landowners for vacating the land during February last. He explained that the owners were requested to vacate their lands for the road. But the land owners did not agree to set aside their land as compensation amount was not disbursed. "3D should have been issued within a year but because of the pandemic, it could not be issued. Therefore, they have published 3A again and started the processes afresh," he stated.
Bhat stated that as a result of a meeting he held at Bengaluru with the officers of National Highways Authority of India, steps have been taken to disburse maximum compensation to all the land owners before January 15, 2021. "One the money is disbursed, works will be started and completed by May next year. If the land owners are ready to give up land now and accept money later, the department is ready to start the road works immediately. We need cooperation of land owners for this," he added.
Bhat wondered what right the Congress party has to hold protest relating to this road. "Congress, without even verifying whether this road is fit for being converted into a national highway, approved the plan. Because of their fault, even now, people living on both sides of the road are suffering. BJP government gave the grant for developing this road. Our government gave Rs 99.86 crore for this road and Rs 91 crore for the development of Adi Udupi-Malpe four lane road works. The previous Parkala municipality ruled by the BJP had set aside three crore rupees grant for land acquisition in the town but when the Congress took over reins, it withdrew this amount and kept the land acquisition process pending. The Congress, which always impeded development, is now holding protest. The previous Congress legislator did not develop any road within his assembly constituency into four lane road. During his period only tar was used for road repairs, and no new projects were taken up, nor were any roads widened through land acquisition process. The Congress leaders should see for themselves the development works and road widening work undertaken by the BJP during the last two years. They have to stop politicising the issue of development," he advised.