'Complete Thokkottu, Pumpwell flyovers'

The work on four-laning of NH 66 from Talapady to Kundapur and the flyovers at Thokkottu and Pumpwell should be completed, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, has ordered.

“The work on the flyovers should be completed by February-end to facilitate the smooth movement of vehicles,” he directed the Navayug Construction Company.

On request of Nalin Kumar Kateel, Dakshina Kannada MP, the Union Minister convened a meeting of the NHAI officials and contractors in New Delhi on Monday to discuss the works related to national highways in the district.

Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and Kateel briefed Gadkari about the hurdles for the road-widening projects in the district.

Demanding reasons for the tardy progress of the four-laning of the NH 75 from B C Road to Addahole, Gadkari directed L&T and NHAI officials to accelerate the work by sorting out the legal hurdles.

‘Speed up work’

He also directed the NH officials from Karnataka to accelerate the work on land acquisition for the Kulashekar – Karkala, B C Road – Kateel – Mulki and Melkar – Konaje – Thokkottu stretches.

Gadkari said that he would participate in the inauguration of the completion of the work on the Talapady – Kundapur national highway stretch and to lay the foundation stone for the four-laning of the other three stretches.

NHAI Managing Director Alok Deepankar, Regional Officer R C Sooryavamshi and others attended the meeting.