DISHA meeting held under the leadership of District MP

DISHA meeting held under the leadership of District MP

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 12, 2025: During the DISHA meeting, discussions were held regarding the Bikarnakatte–Sanur road project.

Moodbidri MLA Umanath Kotian raised questions about the alignment of the highway near Gurupura.

He questioned whether the highway was diverted through Addur instead of passing directly through Gurupura, which has increased the distance by about 5–6 km.
“The purpose of a highway is to provide a direct and convenient route for the public. But here, the road has been diverted. In other places, buildings, temples, and mosques were cleared for the project—why was it changed here?” he asked.

Nominated member Jayananda Chellyar also raised concerns about the Bikarnakatte–Sanur highway project.

He pointed out that while officials claim 47% of the work is complete, there is little visible progress on the ground.

“What work has been done at the Kethikal hill landslide area? The construction seems incomplete, yet the toll collection setup at Surathkal is being rushed,” he said.
He sought clarity on when toll collection would begin, as people remain confused about it.

According to National Highways Project Director Javed Azmi, of the 41 km stretch, 21 km of work has been completed.

The toll plaza under construction at Surathkal will not provide exemptions for local residents.

As per central government guidelines, locals can obtain a monthly pass for ₹350, allowing up to 50 trips.

On the Kulur bridge project, PD Javed Azmi informed that 45% of the work has been completed.

There were funding delays due to contractor-related issues, but they have now been resolved.

Three pillars remain to be completed, and the project is expected to be finished by January 2026.

The new bridge is likely to open for traffic by March 2026.

However, Mangaluru MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta questioned the progress:
“Where exactly is the work happening? I haven’t seen any major progress on the Kulur bridge,” he remarked.