Over 10 thousand trees will be felled, 4 laning of NH75 starts off

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 02, 2017: Works for the concretising and widening NH 75 to four lanes from BC Road to Addahole in Shiradi village, trees are being felled in massive numbers.

The contract has been given to L&T. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari had laid the foundation stone for the project on March 28, 2016.

The 63-km-long concrete road passes through Shiradi, Shiribagilu, Noojibalthila, Ichampady, Nelyadi, Konalu, Golithottu, Bajathooru, Uppinangady, 34 Nekkilady in Puttur, Rekhya in Belthangady, Biliyooru, Perne, Kedila, Mani, Balthila, Golthamajalu, Panemangalore Kasaba, Narikombu and Mooda. The land acquisition process is nearing completion.

The stretch also passes through forest ranges of Uppinangady, Panja, Puttur and Bantwal. Permission has been given for felling 10,196 trees, said Deputy Conservator of Forests V Karikalan.

A total of 3,546 trees at Shiradi, Kaukradi, Rekhya and Uppinangady villages in the Uppinangady forest range, 1,489 trees at Noojibalthila, Ichlampady, Nelyadi, Konalu villages in the Panja range, 2,239 trees at 34 Nekkilady, Bajathooru, Golithottu villages in the Puttur range and 1,747 trees at Biliyooru, Perne, Kedila, Mani, Balthila, Golthamajalu, Panemangalore Kasaba, Narikombu and Mooda villages in the Bantwal range will be felled. About 70 % of the trees have already been removed.

The work on clearing boulders at Bedrodi in Addahole has also started. The road is being widened wherever trees have been removed.

L&T Project Manager V B Katti said flyovers would be built at Uppinangady and Kalladka as part of the road-widening. An overpass will come up at Periyashanthi on Dharmasthala Cross and Mani. In addition, a bridge will be built across Kumaradhara River and another one across the Nethravathi River at BC Road. Foot overbridges will come up at Rekhya, Nelyadi and Narikombu. A ready-mix concrete plant has come up at Golithottu and Gundya to facilitate the work.