Harshini Brahmavar
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Oct 29: The chronic traffic problem being witnessed at Karavali junction here is now sought to be addressed by building underpasses soon. Work on service road connected with this work has been initiated. But the pertinent question here is whether this is the best and only solution that can address the traffic problem at the spot that has become grave.
K M Hegde, officer of National Highways Authority of India, said that the sketch for the two underpasses at the spot, which will be built at a cost of eight crore rupees, is ready. These underpasses will be of ten metres width and 5.5 metres in height, he explained.
Once the underpasses come into existences, vehicles moving between Malpe and Manipal will move on the lower road while the other buses move ahead directly. A need for underpasses at this spot was always felt but the process of release of grant was delayed. Service road on one side has already been completed, while the other road is being laid at a fast pace.
Like the Karavali Junction and Udyavar, Ambalpady Junction also happens to be the entry point into the city that is located on the national highway. But a final decision about the kind of bridge to be built there is yet to be taken. Officials say that the issue is still in discussion stage, and final decision may take some more time.
Although it looks as though the underpass at Udyavar has been completed, it has not been of much use. With the construction of service road on either sides of the highway from Udyavar to Balaipade, pressure on byass road is likely to become less.
Karavali Bypass Nagarika Samiti office bearers are against construction of over-bridge at this junction. They argue that this is totally unscientific, and it spoils the beauty of the city. Convener of the Samiti, Babu Amin, has been requesting the concerned to built over-bridge by erecting concrete pillars instead of filling mud. His argument is that this will enable pedestrians, old persons, women and children to cross the road. He adds that the space below the over-bridge can then be used for parking of light vehicles.
The construction of cattle-pass at Brahmavar, which was progressing at a snail's pace, is being readied for use by general public soon. Either because of political pressure, perfunctory, or just to finish off the work in a hurry, the work seems to be going on against scientific principles. The passengers using this stretch are worrying about problems waiting to happen. Anyway, strict adherence to road rules is the only alternative left for them now.
Underpass is coming to Udupi after several years since the work of bridge at Kundapur was completed. The concerned are better advised to undertake detailed studies in a scientific mannaer before taking a final decision. At present, when power goes off, automatic signals too go off at Karavali Junction. In such cases, rarely are the road rules followed. Therefore, the concerned, before blindly going ahead with the construction of underpass, should study the rush of traffic and ensure strict implementation of road rules.
K M Hegde says that as per the government order, this project has to be completed by June 2016. But the officials cannot say anything for sure now, as they too are mired in confusions on the issue.
Most importantly, the service road being built now is narrow and it may not be enough to control the traffic rush that is growing here. The engineers executing the contract work say that land acquisition process has not been completed yet in some places.
At the same time, people hope that the officials, if they work honestly, would be able to complete the underpass work at the earliest.