Sharbathkatte road in Nanthoor a kill joy for public

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 29, 2015: Public, residents and many other users of Sharabathkatte Road in Nanthoor had heaved a sigh of relief when the MCC - Mangalore City Corporation woke up to their miseries and commenced concreting the 400 m road last month. Now their happiness appears short-lived as the work has stopped midway.

 

A portion of the road, about 300 m, between Airport Road and Bhadrakali Temple has completely been concreted, while the remaining portion between the Temple and Padua PU College on NH 66 lies in its worst state — full of potholes and craters.

Besides serving the residents of surrounding areas, the Sharabathkatte Road has been a shortcut between the Airport Road and National Highway 66 (Edapally-Panvel Highway). Vehicles moving between the Airport and southern parts of the city as well as Kerala had been using this route to avoid the KPT Junction, where traffic snarls are common.

Regular users of the road said, the road had been in a pathetic condition for several years as attempts to restore it by filling potholes were getting washed away during the rain. Particularly, the stretch between Bhadrakali Temple and Padua College resembled a cesspool with pedestrians being forced to wade through knee-deep water during the monsoon. The narrow road stretch completely lacked shoulder drains to drain out rainwater.

Lack of Funds : Mangaluru South MLA J.R. Lobo, who had initiated the project and laid the foundation stone for the work, told  media that insufficient funds is the cause for abrupt halt of the work. He said he would arrange funds somehow and ensure that the work gets completed by the New Year 2016. The remaining stretch of the road has other problems as it is quite narrow and it is difficult to build shoulder drains. The road needs to be widened and he is planning to get premium FAR funds from the Corporation to get required land acquired, MLA. Lobo said. Widening of the road is very essential as it decongests KPT Circle from vehicles moving towards South Mangaluru and Kerala.