Pics: Justin D’Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Oct 23: MP Kota Srinivas Poojary has declared that the Indrali railway bridge will be completed by January 15, 2025. He made this announcement during a site visit on October 23, accompanied by MLA Yashpal Suvarna.
Kota Srinivas Poojary explained, “The project began in 2018 with the bridge initially designed to be 38 meters long, but it has now been extended to 58 meters. The project, which was originally budgeted at Rs 9.8 crore, has now increased to Rs 13 crore. The amount of steel required has also risen from 138 tons to 420 tons. Work is currently underway, and a meeting with government officials has been conducted. Construction will resume in two days. Due to previous delays, I have ordered strict action to be taken. The Railways has granted permission, although there were delays in this process, as even minor setbacks can lead to significant issues. Therefore, all work will proceed under the supervision of the Railways. Complaints have been filed against the contractor, as accidents have occurred here.”
Kota also commented on the progress of the Santhekatte underpass, stating, “The drilling of rocks is ongoing, as blasting has been temporarily halted. I have been regularly inspecting the site.”
MLA Yashpal Suvarna added, “The welding of the girders will be completed by November 20, after which they will be moved, and bridge construction will begin. Since both the Railway and Highway departments are involved, various processes are required. I urge the public to cooperate with us until the project is completed. Some protesters seem to be seeking attention, protesting only when construction nears completion for publicity. There are other, more relevant issues, such as the removal of 40,000 ration cards and claim letters, which deserve focus. If they protest these societal issues, we can view their actions as being for the public good.”
NHAI engineer Manjunath Nayak, CMC member Girish Anchan, and other officials were present at the site.