Work on Madikeri-Sampaje road under progress

Road is likely to be opened for traffic from May 1

The work on the road from Bhagamandala curve to Madenadu, covering nine km has been completed. By April end, the work will be completed, said Karnataka State Development Corporation Technical advisor Mukunda Reddy.

The work on road from Kushalnagar to Sampaje covering 60.2 km is being undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 101.88 crore. Kushalnagar to Madikeri road was developed last year. After the monsoon, the work on road from Madikeri-Sampaje was undertaken.

“About 350 labourers are engaged in the road work. About 14 hitachi, 64 dumpers, four concrete mixers are being used for the upgradation of the road,” said Reddy.

He said the road from Madikeri-Sampaje is 25 km. The road is asphalted in three stages. There are 133 minor bridges between Madikeri to Sampaje, which needs to be built. The work on 80 minior bridges was under progress. Retaining walls are being constructed at three places between Jodupala and Sampaje, he informed.

He said the road will be maintained by the corporation for three years after its completion.

“If one layer of asphaltation is done on the road once in five years, then the road can last for 15 years,” he added.

“As Madikeri-Sampaje road is not seven metre wide at many places, we have to construct retaining walls and widen the road while laying the road. There are huge boulders at several places, which needs to be removed. A few places are very congested and have narrow curves. The road is being widened where there are narrow curves,” he added.