Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Aug 1: Those awaiting the resumption of normal traffic on the 13 kilometre stretch of Shiradi Ghat section of national highway 75 between Bengaluru and Mangaluru will have to wait a bit longer.

Though the road work is complete and was supposed to open for light vehicles from Saturday August 1, there is no final word as to when the road would be officially opened for traffic, as other works like construction of barriers along the road and installation of roadsigns are still pending.

The width of the road, which was seven metres in the past, has been increased to 8.5 metres now. The contract worth Rs 69.9 crore was executed by Ocean Constructions. The road, extending from Heggade to Addahole, also involved building of 69 culverts.

Addressing the media here on Saturday August 1, Deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, A B Ibrahim, said that it is not possible to officially declare the stretch of the road open as announced earlier from August 1 for light vehicles, as a final decision is yet to be taken.

"At present, the work of levelling sides of the road is in progress. The work of traffic marking, installation of signboards and barrier walls is pending. Therefore, PWD has advised not to officially open this road for traffic. A meeting will be held with NHAI officials next week and then a decision will be taken," he said, adding that a final call will be taken after PWD gives the green signal. MP Nalin Kumar who was present at the meet also echoed the same.

The PWD minister had been approached with a request not to close the road for traffic for the second phase of road development. But he had said that there was no other option but to close the road at least for a short period as the stretch, which has been creating problems frequently, has to be properly laid without leaving anu scope for deviation from set standards.