Johnas Sequeira
Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Nov 26: Somehow, for reasons and excuses aplenty, development works in the city almost never seem to complete on time. We saw that in the case of Town Hall renovation and the long-pending Bejai market which is still incomplete despite being inaugurated, and of course, the never-ending highway works.
Among the pending works is Padil-Bajal railway underbridge, the foundation for which was laid on August 16, 2014 by the then union minister for railways D V Sadananda Gowda. The project was expected to be complete by February this year, and the next deadline given by the same minister was June 30, but one look at the site will tell you it is not going to happen anytime soon.
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And because of the pending work, routine life of residents of Padil, Bajal, Faisalnagar, Vijayanagar, Veeranagar, Jalligudde, and Alape has been affected. The Padil-Bajal road was closed to facilitate the work on railway underpass last October.
The residents are facing hardships. Without movement of vehicles, they have to take the longer route and walk to reach the main road. In spite of the inconvenience met by the residents, the MCC has failed to complete the approach road on time and throw open the underbridge for vehicular movement.
Though the work on the underbridge which had halted during the rainy season has resumed, it is unclear when it open for the general public. Work on drains is yet to be completed, and land had to be acquired for construction of approach roads.
Speaking to the daijiworld, DRM of Palakkad division Anand Prakash said, "The railway department has executed the maximum work. On the other side that leads to Bajal, out of the 11 meters, work on 6 meters has been completed and the remaining will be done by November 30. The MCC has to deposit Rs 1.13 crore, and though this amount is still outstanding, we have continued the work."
When contacted, mayor Jacintha Vijay Alfred said, "There has been delay due to the additional work that had to be taken up, like construction of drain on the other side. The construction of approach road required acquisition. Resolution has been passed in the council for all these works. Once tender process is complete, work on the approach roads would be started."
Speaking to daijiworld, area corporator Vijay Kumar said, "We were facing some problems relating to the approach road towards Veeranagar and Vijaya Nagar. Now that problem has been solved and resolution has been passed in the council. For construction of approach road and drains,Rs 2 crore has been sanctioned and another additional Rs 1.3 crore for the payment to railway department has also been sanctioned. Now the work has been given to Nirmiti Kendra, which will start the work on the road approach and drain once the work by the railway department is complete. Within two to three months, work would be completed."