Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Apr 24: Because of the fact that the land acquisition process is delayed, the highway expansion programme between B C Road and Punjalkatte, which is long-pending, has been stranded.

The upgradation of the highway measuring 19.85 km had been undertaken two years back. If the work was on track, the work should have been completed by December last. But works have stalled at the preliminary stage wherever the land acquisition process has not been completed.

Work on Bantwal bypass has not been undertaken as the land acquisition process has not been done here. Some of the land acquisition processes relating to the national highways happen at Bengaluru. The special land acquisition officer visited the spot for inspection recently and confusion over land acquisition relating to one part has been addressed and the work can progress from here, officials say.

Out of the above, a 16 km stretch between Jakribettu and Punjalkatte would be an asphalted road and the remaining 3.85 km till Jakribettu would be a four lane highway. As much as 17 km of the highway has been almost completed and 2.5 km is pending.

Along with the highway work, the work on shifting of MRPL pipeline is going on. The oil pipeline cannot be removed unless the entire work of shifting is completed, sources in the department said. Where the shifting is proposed, huge boulders are located, and as there are houses nearby, detonating them is not feasible, the officials said citing this as reason for the delay.