Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday December 15 said that driving licence issual centres would be opened soon to regulate the system and prevent issual of bogus licences.

Addressing reporters after meeting officials of the highway department and New Mangalore Port Trust in the city, Gadkari said, "Every year 5 lac accidents take place in India resulting in 1.5 lac deaths. The main problem is the issual of driving licence. In the entire world, it is easiest to get driving licence in India, and approximately 30 percent of the driving licences are bogus. Hence we will form new driving licence issual centres where computers will take the test and certify the driving licence. This step is mainly aimed at improving the system.

"We are also working on improving road engineering. Already underbridges, road curves, flyovers and accident-prone spots have been improved though road engineering. We are taking all road safety measures. The priority of the department is to save the lives of the people. We have decided to form a road safety authority and the proposal is with the cabinet. It will be approved in due course of time," he said, adding, "It is up to the parliament to pass the amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act. Our main priority is how we can save lives."

On the proposed Shiradi Ghat tunnel road project, he said, "Six tunnels and ten bridges will be constructed at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore, and the work will begin by next December.

"The length of the national highway across the country is 96,000 km, and we are planning to extend it to 1.5 lac km. This will diversify the traffic," he added.

On the ambitious expressway project, he said, "Work on the first expressway, the eastern and western bypass road through Delhi at a cost of Rs 13,000 crore is on. Work is also under way on expressways between Hyderbad - Bengaluru, Bengaluru - Chennai and Vijaywada - Amaravati. We are also working on Delhi - Chennai highway and Delhi-Srinagar highway.

"We are looking into minor problems regarding highways and soon the issues will be resolved, he added.

Regarding railway and port connectivity, he said tenders have been called for ten projects and 40 others are on the anvil.

To a question on introduction of battery buses for lawmakers, he said the buses will be released on December 21 as part of Make in India initiative.

"We will emphasize on automobile factories based on use of ethanol, biodiesel and bioelectricity, which will be cost-effective and also envorinment friendly," he added.

To a question on allegations of corruption in RTAs he said, "We will make the law transparent and will rectify these problems through e-governance."

KCCI submits memorandum

During Gadkari's visit, the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) submitted a memorandum to the minister with various demands pertaining to development of Mangaluru city and road connectivity:

1. Connectivity to Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) at Ganjimutt

"NH-50 connecting Mangaluru to EPIP is a single road which is proposed to be widened. The road connecting NH-66 to NH-50 at the Bikarnakatte flyover is just 3 meters where only one vehicle can pass. The exporters from this area are facing hardships in transporting their goods in containers due to the narrow roads. The new investors are also reluctant to take up land in this industrial Park which has one of the best infrastructure in this region," states the memorandum.

"The NHAI has submitted a proposal for Gurpur-Kaikamba Bypass Road NH 50 which is totally unscientific with 3 sharp bends within a short distance, improper gradient and next to steep valley which will increase the cost of laying the same. This proposed road overlaps the present existing state highway, which in turn will increase the already heavy traffic on the said state highway," it adds.

In this regard, the KCCI submitted a proposal which it prepared with a scientific approach and surveys with the following benefits:

1) There will be only one bend for the same stretch.
2) The stretch will be decreased in length by 10% than the NHAI proposed road.
3) There will be minimum acquisitions in our proposed stretch.
4) The road will be straight with proper gradient for the entire length of the bypass.
5) It is also easier for future expansions due to the straightness in nature.
6) It will also help in increasing fuel economy and reducing accidents and blockages.

The KCCI urged the minister to look into its proposal and also direct the NHAI to do so.

2) Reconstruction work of old bridge at Baikampady Railway over bridge to be expedited

"The road connecting to Baikampady from NH-66 needs improvement of free flow vehicular transport into Baikampady industrial area, which is the second biggest industrial area in the State. The constraint is the bottleneck at the entrance to the Industrial Area due to the non-completion of the railway over bridge. The entrepreneurs and the public have to face blockade for hours during the peak hours. Now that one of the bridges is in the completion stage," the memorandum states, urging the minister to expedite the work on the old bridge and provide proper planning on the feeder roads for easing the vehicular movement to the industrial area.

3) Widening of service road between Baikampady and Kulur along the NMPT property

The KCCI requested the minister to grant 7 meters service road between Baikampady and Suratkal, as the Port related vehicular movement including heavy trucks are using the same road.

4) Service roads between Baikampady and Suratkal

"There is no service road between Baikampady and Suratkal. There are four major suburbs which are densely populated. In the last 5 years there are more than nine hundred accidents and above 100 deaths caused due to accidents on this sector," the KCCI stated in the memorandum, pointing out that the port connectivity project has not proposed service roads to this sector. The KCCI urged the minister to direct the officials to survey and propose the service road.

"The service road connecting the flyovers too at Suratkal, Kulur, Kottara and Bikarnakatte are just 3 meters wide, which is very unscientific. Heavy vehicles commute on this road which keeps getting blocked most of the time, and in Suratkal the vehicles have to come on the wrong route, which is very dangerous. The junction points the flyovers to the service roads need to be widened in order to ensure smooth flow of traffic," the memorandum states.

5) KCCI also requested Gadkari that toll collection on highways be deferred till all service roads are completed.

6) Mangaluru to Kundapur National Highway and Shiradi Ghat Roads

The KCCI also urged the minister to ensure on priority the early completion of the work on Mangaluru to Kundapur stretch of the national highway which has literally come to a stand still, as well as work on Shiradi Ghat.

"The 2nd phase of concreting and road improvement work of the national highway from Gundia to Hassan is pending, as well as the road widening of the highway from BC Road to Hassan," the memorandum stated, urging the minister to have these projects completed at the earliest, as commuters are facing great hardship due to the incompletion of these projects.

7) Improvement of Cruise Terminal at New Mangaluru Port

"Even though a number of cruise vessels call on Mangaluru Port, the facilities for the passengers at the terminal are inadequate and the passengers are put to a lot of hardship both from the amenities and immigration point of view," KCCI said, requesting the minister's intervention for the improvement of these facilities in order to mitigate these problems as well as to attract more cruise liners to call on Mangaluru Port.

8) Inclusion of Mangaluru in the Coastal Circuit Policy for Global Cruise Lines

"The Centre has initiated the Coastal Circuit Policy for Global Cruise Lines, identifying Goa (Mormugao), Mumbai and Kochi as possible ports of call for global cruise lines. We request your good self to include Mangaluru in this circuit as Mangaluru is en route from Goa to Kochi and offers cruise passengers a unique temple and cuisine experience. Mangaluru being a major port, this move will greatly benefit the tourism industry in the state and will contribute immensely to the development of Mangaluru and Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts a whole," states the memorandum.