Delay in NH works: Rai criticises Kateel

Former minister B Ramanath Rai on Tuesday attributed the delay in widening of NH 75 stretches to MP Nalin Kumar Kateel’s indifferent attitude.

Rai told reporters at the District Congress Committee office that the upgrade of NH 75 at the Addahole – B C Road stretch was hit by delaying tactics. “The road is a major connecting stretch between Mangaluru and Bengaluru,” he added.

“The project had been sanctioned by the UPA government and the Larsen & Toubro (L&T) company was given the contract. The state government had cleared all the formalities, such as acquiring land – including a 36-hectare forest area – and handing it over to the NHAI. The government, therefore, had no hand in the delay of the project,” he insisted.

The MP, however, has been falsely accusing the government of delaying the widening work. He is escaping his responsibilities,” Rai alleged.

He admitted that there were differences of opinion between the NHAI and the contractors. “The contractors had stopped the work owing to non-payment of bills. The abandoned work will pose danger in the next monsoon,” the former minister reminded.

Vehicles could not ply on the road, Rai said, and urged the NHAI and the MP Kateel to take urgent measures to ensure work on the stretch was resumed. Fresh tenders should also be invited for the work, he suggested.

Rai also accused the MP of launching a misinformation campaign and blaming the state government for the delay in the work on the Pumpwell flyover and the Mangaluru - Moodbidri Road widening.

“The district Congress will stage protests against the MP’s indifferent attitude in completing the Addahole – B C Road work. There are also plans to take out another padayatra from Addahole to Mangaluru in the coming days,’’ said the former minister.