by Naina J A for DHNS

Mangalore, Jul 9: As many as seven flyovers, five minor bridges, three under passes and 15 culverts will be constructed during the four-laning of National Highways connecting B C Road to Surathkal by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
 
As many as seven flyovers, five minor bridges, three under passes and 15 culverts will be constructed during the four-laning of National Highways connecting B C Road to Surathkal by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

Speaking to Deccan Herald, an official from the NHAI said all the structures will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 101 crores. Nearly 60 per cent of the total amount to be spent on four laning of Surathkal-Nanthur of NH 17, Padil-BC Road of NH 48 and a bypass from Nanthur Junction on NH-17 to Padil Junction on NH 48 will be spent on the construction of flyovers and minor bridges.

Flyovers will be constructed at Surathkal, Kuloor, Kottara Chowki, Nanthur, Maroli, BC Road and Kuntikana and foundation for the same will be laid soon, he added. “All the flyovers will be built on ‘pile foundation’ wherein the pillars will be laid 30 metre below the gound,” sources added.

Sources said three minor bridges will be constructed between BC Road and Padil and two bridges between Nanthur and Surathkal. Under passes will be constructed in front of KREC, Govinda Das College and Baikampady, he added.

Felling of trees

Sources in NHAI also said that as many as 3,000 trees on NH 17 and NH 48 will be chopped during the four laning of the road.

NHAI has paid Rs 19.76 lakh to the Forest Department for compensatory afforestation programme for felling of trees on National Highway. It has also paid Rs six lakh to the Forest Department before felling of tress. More than 2,300 trees have already been chopped so far.

Electric poles

As many as 1,296 electric poles have to be shifted during the project. Sources said the shifting of electric poles is in progress and 623 electric poles have been already shifted so far. Remaining 472 electric poles will be shifted after the completion of land acquisition process.” NHAI has paid Rs 22.11 lakh to Mescom to supervise the shifting of electric poles, sources added.

Water pipelines

The NHAI has deposited Rs Rs 3.78 crore with the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) to shift 32 km length pipeline in February, 2005. Interestingly, the work of shifting the water supply pipeline has not yet commenced so far. Tender for shifting the water supply pipeline was invited recently and the lowest tender was for Rs 14.31 crore.

“We can not start our work unless the water supply pipelines are shifted. This is delaying our work,” sources said.

Excavation of drains

A major task of NHAI during the project is the excavation of drains on NH 17 and NH 48 to let the rain water flow without any stagnation of water on the road. To their surprise, NHAI officials have found many illegal water pipes, telephone lines during the excavation of drains near Baikampady, Hosabettu and Kulai. Even local residents have staged a protest against the excavation of drains in the region.

“Some localites have even threatened our workers who were engaged in excavation of drains,” sources said.

The NHAI is also involved in clearing 87 pipe culverts to carry storm water from upstream side to the sea. Though, they tried to clear 20 pipe culverts so far, they could not do so as the culverts were filled with illegal water pipe connections, sources said. Sources also said that the Deputy Commissioner has assured to co-operate with the NHAI officials in clearing all the drains and pipe culverts by calling a meeting of MCC officials at the earliest.