NHAI: Major works to be completed by March 2019

The four-laning work of Talapady-Kundapur National Highway 66 will be completed by March 2019, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) Regional Officer R K Suryavamshi said in Mangaluru on Tuesday.

He was redressing the grievances of activists during a meeting convened by Mangaluru MP Nalin Kumar Kateel at the DC’s office.

He said Thokkottu and Padubidri road works will be completed by December 2018 and work on the 90-km stretch of Talapady-Kundapur will be completed by March 2019.

Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Zilla Rashtriya Heddari Horata Samithi President Deviprasad Shetty said the widening works on NH 66 were slated to be completed in 2013, but are still pending.

The NHAI’s indifferent attitude towards maintaining the safety of National Highway roads has resulted in the loss of many lives, he said.

“The road alignment is unscientific. The service roads, flyovers and underpasses are not provided where they were needed. The public interest had been neglected. Even as works are pending, the toll collection has been started at Surathkal and Hejamady toll gates. In Hejamady, NHAI has set up a toll gate on PWD Road,” he said.

“The NHAI Engineer has completely abused his powers,” he charged adding that the campaign against toll gates will continue until they secure justice.

The activists accused the NHAI of misleading the public with false reports on the progress of Talapady-Kundapur Road.

Activist Dinaker Shetty the carrying capacity of bridges was a maximum of five tonnes in the 1950s. “But now, the same bridges have been withstanding the weight of more than 20 tonnes. Udyavara, Haleyangadi, Panambur and Kulur bridges are in a dilapidated state and tragedy could occur any time,’’ he warned and urged the additional deputy commissioner to obtain a report on the carrying capacity of the old bridges.

The NHAI officials clarified that there is no proposal to further widen the NH-75 in Nelyadi.

The clarification came from officials when the residents of Nelyadi opposed the marking of land in Nelyadi by L&T company.

The activists accused the company’s surveyors of encroaching upon three metres of land from the stretch already acquired by the NHAI for road development works. They urged officials to clarify on whether the additional land is being acquired for further widening of the road.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumar denied releasing any notification on the further widening of the stretch.

All acquisition processes have been completed and the compensation was distributed to the land owners, he added.

The L&T officials admitted that the marking was a mistake and there will be no further widening on the particular stretch.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, who was to preside over the meeting, could not attend the meeting scheduled at 6 pm due to the delayed departure of his flight from Bengaluru.