Restoration work of Shiradi Ghat to be completed by Jan 2014: Oscar Fernandes

Restoration work of Shiradi Ghat to be completed by Jan 2014: Oscar Fernandes

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Dec 30, 2013: Union Cabinet Minister for Transport, Road and Highways Oscar Fernandes said that the restoration work of Shiradi Ghat will be completed by the end of January 2014 at the estimated expenditure of Rs. 85 crore.

Speaking at the press meet held at Circuit House on December 30, Monday, he said that the repair of Shiradi Ghat is the permanent solution and within 18 months it will be made totally motorable.

 

He also said that the permanent road work will be taken up in two stages including concretization asphaltation of the roads. The action plan for the work has been already prepared and Minister for Forest and Ecology B Ramanath Rai has assured to grant permission within a week.

Speaking about the problem of Shiradi Ghat, Minister said that this problem is unusual in nature, since the roads are being damaged due to the spring water which comes from beneath the road.

The discussions have been conducted to lay tunnel roads in Shiradi Ghats, which will avoid cutting of the trees in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats. The centre has also approached Japanese agency in this regard, he said.

Oscar said that even though centre is work towards the Shiradi Ghat road, people complain about inefficiency of the government, hence the progress of the repair works which is taking place in Shiradi Ghats will be updated in the Highway authority website daily.

Apart from it, the government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 40 crore for the completion of Nanthoor Cross, further the amount of Rs 22 crore will be sanctioned for repair work of service roads leading from B.C.Road to Surathkal.

The Agumbe Ghat road, Manipal-Karkala-Moodbidri roads will also be upgraded, he added.

Oscar said that the proposal has been sent to Public Works Department Minister to set up a connecting road near Women’s Polytechnic College to Mangalore International Airport, which saves time of motorists and reach Airport in ten minutes.

State minister for Public Works C.Mahadevappa, said that under the Central Road Fund, the restoration works of 14-15,000 km of MDR, 20,000 km State Highways and 4,000 kms National Highways has been completed. 

He also said that more number of heavy vehicles carrying loads beyond its capacity is the main reason for the depletion of the road. Hence the department is also planning to set up Weigh Bridge near the toll gate centres.

State minister for forest and ecology B.Ramanath Rai, Minister urban development Vinay Kumar Sorake, State minister for health and family welfare U.T.Khadar, MLA Shakunthala Shetty and others were present.