Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Jan 14: The officials from National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on Tuesday January 13 agreed to finish the pending repair works on Charmadi Ghat by January 31, after deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim asked the NHAI to set a deadline for the same.

The NHAI agreed to complete works like asphalting the existing road and digging and widening hillocks to increase the road width temporarily, constructing channels on the Ghat for rainwater to flow, and widening the Charmadi Ghat.

After asking to set a deadline, the DC also expressed dissatisfaction with the NHAI for not putting up proper signs, diversions, and cautionary boards on roads which will be informative to commuters. "The NHAI is sleeping over the issue of Charmadi Ghat," he said.

Superintendent of police (SP) Dr Sharanappa, pointing out the negligence of NHAI over the fixing up signs as well as cautionary and deviation boards, requested the DC to release Rs 5 lac where the police department will take up the responsibility of fixing the signboards and cautionary boards.

Pointing at NHAI officials, Dr Sharanappa said, "When you fail to execute the work, the district administration will get a bad name. Though meetings are being held from the past three months, the work has been not been completed."

Acting on the request of the SP, the deputy commissioner immediately asked ADC Sadhashiva Prabhu to sanction Rs 5 lac under the Natural Calamities Fund.

The DC also asked the NHAI to arrange for proper facilities and cranes in appropriate places on Charmadi Ghat.

KSRTC officials also said that 150 buses from Mangaluru and 150 buses from Bangalore are plying via Charmadi Ghat while 27 buses ply via Uppinangady. KSRTC has also additional buses from Uppinangady to Nellyadi.

Dr Sharanappa said that the sanctioned amount of Rs 5 lac will be utilized to renovate the check post at Charmadi and the department will also form an outpost and put up convex mirrors and sign boards, deviations, and cautionary hoardings. "Already five men have been deployed from Belthangady. Station inspector or police sub-inspector will be patrolling in the limits," he said.

Speaking on the theft case reported in Bhagavathi Co-operative Bank at BC Road, Dr Sharanappa said, “An inter-state team of professional thieves is involved in this case. Already four teams with technical expertise have been formed to trace the culprits."

He also asked that banks, co-operative banks, and temples should take precautionary measures by setting up burglar alarms and CCTVs. "Burglar alarms reduce crime by about 90 percent," he said, adding that Bhagavathi Co-operative Bank has insurance coverage.