Complete pending construction works: District in-charge minister

District in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj instructed the officials to immediately execute all the pending proposed construction works.

Speaking at the engineers meet held at taluk panchayat, recently, the minister said, "In Udupi assembly constituency, as many as 4,481 works are taken up at a cost of Rs 515.80 crore from May 8, 2013 to December 20, 2017. The proposed works should be completed as the poll code of conduct would be imposed shortly."

Of the total proposed works, 453 construction works are in progress which are taken up at the cost of Rs 139.40 crore. Rs 424 works are approved for the cost of Rs 163.27 crore and would be taken up shortly. The number of completed works include, 2,695 road works, 10 bridges, 137 structures, 21 vented dams, 14 de-silting works of the ponds, 43 school buildings, 1,099 irrigation related projects, 176 sea walls and 26 works for developing infrastructural facilities at Malpe shore, five fisheries jetty are among others.

The minister questioned officials for the bad condition and negligence of Adi Udupi-Parkala proposed national highway, which is filled with potholes. He added that Adi Udupi-Parkala national highway should be taken up on priority for widening, as many vehicles travel on this route.

The minister said if the central government releases funds, the land acquisition process would be initiated immediately. "There is no shortage of funds to repair the potholes. The PWD minister has approved to release special funds for the repair of potholes, if the central government fails to respond," he added.

The officer said that the potholes are being repaired and the first stage action plan of widening the Adi Udupi-Parkala stretch, costing upto Rs 87 crore, has been sent to the government. "The bridges at Neelavara and Perampalli will be completed, and the foundation stone for the Kalsanka bridge would be laid at the earliest.

The minister said that the contractors who fail to perform effectively should be blacklisted.