Vehicles to ply on Shiradi Ghat by July 5: Revanna

Vehicles to ply on Shiradi Ghat by July 5: Revanna

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 20, 2018:  Speaking to media on the sidelines of a review meeting of PWD and NH related works in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts on June 19, Tuesday,   New Public Works Department Minister H D Revanna said that the Shiradi Ghat stretch will be open for vehicular movement by July 5.

 

He said that the work on the stretch is almost complete. About one week would be required to complete all the pending works. It will take 10 days for curing of the concrete stretch of road.

Further, he said priority has been given for the maintenance of PWD, NH and Major District Roads (MDR) in the state. The PWD has released Rs 25,000 per kilometre to take up the work on pothole filling and other immediate works.

He said that DK DC  Sasikanth Senthil has been directed to convene a meeting of the officials concerned to take up work on drains beside the road from Bantwal to Sullia.

The NH state officials will be sent to Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts to discuss on the pending works on National Highway from Talapady to Kundapura.

Stating that the deputy commissioners of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have informed him on the delay in the work on flyovers by the NHAI as a part of four-laning of the National Highway, which is posing an inconvenience to people, he said that NHAI will be directed to complete the work at the earliest.

Stating that there was no shortage of funds, he said that funds for the repair of roads and bridges will be released as soon as the DCs submit the reports.

Earlier, the minister visited Charmadi Ghat and inspected the landslide locations. “Landslides have been occurring on Charmadi Ghat. Nearly
Rs 250 crore would be required to take up a permanent solution on the stretch. The Central government will be urged to release the amount,” said the Minister.

Rs 19 crore loss:  DK DC  Sasikanth Senthil said that the district has incurred infrastructural loss worth Rs 19 crore following heavy rain. The PWD has incurred a loss of Rs 6 crore.

The delay in completion of two flyovers as a part of four-laning of national highway at Pumpwell and Thokkottu were partially responsible for the inundation of the highway during heavy rainfall, he added.

The contractor has failed to complete the work on the flyovers and hence the DC urged the minister to convene a meeting in Bengaluru to discuss the issue.

He said a survey should be conducted on Charmadi Ghat, Shiradi Ghat, Bisile Ghat and Sampaje Ghat on the possible landslides that may occur following rain and a separate provision should be made for the construction of retaining walls to check the landslides.

He also directed the NH officials to keep two teams ready at the beginning and end of Charmadi Ghat with an excavator to face any kind of eventualities, during monsoon. The two teams should coordinate with each other and check the movement of vehicles in case of any emergency.

Udupi DC Priyanka Mary Francis too blamed the NHAI for the delay in completing the work on flyovers and road, which is causing lots of hindrance to the people. The Udupi district has incurred a loss of Rs 12 crore due to heavy rainfall which includes Rs 1.17 crore for the PWD.

PWD superintending Engineer Kantaraju said that work on filling potholes, repairing of bridges, and other maintenance of PWD, and MDR roads will be completed within a month.

MLAs speak :  Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja said that as Belthangady taluk received heavy rainfall, the roads are in deplorable condition. Immediate funds should be sanctioned for repair work.

With the closure of Shiradi Ghat, the pressure on Charmadi Ghat is more. The PWD and MDR roads in Belthangady taluks should be upgraded, he said.

Puttur MLA Sanjiva Matandoor and Mulki-Moodbidri MLA Umanath Kotian said that lack of stormwater drains on the road have led to flooding of the main roads in Puttur and Moodbidri.

The minister directed the DC to submit a list of roads that need to be upgraded on a priority basis.