Shiradi Ghat may open by July 20

Urban Development and Housing Minister U T Khader on Saturday directed Public Works Department (PWD) and National Highways Authority of India officers to throw open Shiradi Ghat for vehicular movement between July 15 and 20.

He chaired a meeting at Mangaluru deputy commissioner's office to review the progress of national highways.

PWD Mangaluru Circle's executive engineer Subbaram Holla said that laying of the concrete had been done on the stretch.

"About two weeks are required for the curing work," he said.

Khader directed him to hold meetings with PWD staff and ensure that the vehicular movement began between July 15 and 20.

The Minister directed deputy commissioner Sasikant Senthil to initiate an inquiry against Navayuga Engineering Company Limited (NECL) for delaying commissioning of National Highway-66.

The NECL officers failed to provide the data sought by the minister and acknowledged that there was a delay in commissioning the project due to financial problems.

They sought time till March 2019 to complete the project.

The DC said that complaints of murders would be lodged against the NECL and NHAI authorities for any accident-related deaths on the road.