Kundapur in development mode - Work on flyover, highway extension resume

Silvester D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (VM)

Kundapur, May 17: The long pending demand of the people of the taluk is now nearing fruition as work on the flyover on the NH 66 has been started again. It has indeed brought a sigh of relief among the people.

The four lane work in Kundapur started one-and-a-half years ago had gained good momentum over six months despite several hindrances. But later, due to some problems among political parties, it was decided that an embankment would be built by constructing a 20 feet wall at Shastri Circle. In this regard, various associations like Kundapur Ulisi Horata Samiti, Express Highway Ottaya Samiti, and Kundapur Nagarika Hitarakshana Samiti had come forward to protest.

Later, these committees under the guidance of MP Jayaprakash Hegde held a discussion with the highway authorities in Delhi. Various central officials and ministers gave in to the pressure of these associations and did all necessary preparations to construct the flyover. But again, the various Samitis fought against this plan as it was not useful to the people and finally acting on this, the four lane flyover was sanctioned.

Now, the Navayug Construction Company has started the flyover work. Four dig machines were seen in the area and the ground leveling work is being carried out. Shops located next to the area have been removed and under the guidance of Navayug company foreman Venkatesh, land has been identified to construct a five-span.

In the place of each pillar, four digs of 1m length have been installed and concrete caps have been kept in and on top of that pillars will be installed. Along with digging machine operator Dhanraj, four other workers are inviolved in leveling the ground.

The 150m flyover will pass from Gandhi Maidan near Shastri Circle and will pass in front of RN Shetty Hall and will end near Hariprasad Hotel. Pillars will be constructed at a distance of 30 m and the flyover will be a two-way road.

“In another two days, a clear blue print of the flyover will be obtained after which details of the project can be disclosed. The leveling of the ground where the flyover will be constructed is on and in another four days digging work will begin,” said Venkatesh, foreman of Navayug Company.

Work on Kundapur-Karwar highway extension begins
 
There is more good news for the people of the taluk. Along with work on the flyover, the work on extending Kundapur-Karwar national highway has also started.
 
Survey has begun on the project which covers a distance of 188 km from Kundapur to Karwar. Various tenders have been sanctioned to different companies to construct bridges and so on, and they have already started their work. Already, work has began on identifying rocks through drilling near Honnavar and Sangam bridge.
 
The widening of NH 66 was the long pending wish of the people of coastal region. In this regard decision was taken to build flyover instead of embankment and thus land was also acquired but later the work came to a halt.
 
The road widening work in Kundapur started a year-and-a-half ago had gained good momentum for about 6 months, but later the work was stopped for various political reasons. Even at the time of assembly elections, the work was resumed but could not continue for long.
 
Now, though the digging work to to construct bridges in Kundapur-Karwar highway has begun, the progress has been slow. On the other hand, huge trees which have been around for years together may have to be chopped off to widen the road, possibly inviting protests from environmentalists.