Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Mar 1: “The government has responded positively to age old demand of construction of bridge across Sauparnika river between Movadi and Nada. The new bridge will be constructed through Karnataka state road corporation at a cost of nearly Rs 7 crore. The bridge will be useful for people in Devalli, Anagodu and Movadi. The land in Nadaguddeangadi will improve further,” said Byndoor MLA K Gopala Poojary.
He was speaking after laying the foundation for the bridge at Movadi, Trasi gram panchayat limits on Wednesday, February 28.
He said, “Several bridges have been constructed in Byndoor during the last five years. The construction work of bridges in Kannadakudru and Maraswamy is complete. Several roads have been concretized and tarred. Development works are conducted on the basis of people's desires and expectations. Sincere attempts have been made for the all round development of the constituency.
“Road from Movadi church to Don Bosco has been concretized and the road from Don Bosco to Movadi has been tarred. There will be attempts to concretize the road from the new Movadi bridge to the main road. The concretization of roads is progressing at a brisk pace. All the projects which are approved will be set in motion before election code of conduct comes into force,” he said.
Trasi gram panchayat president Venkata Poojary chaired the programme. Taluk panchayat member Narayana K Gujjadi, Padukone church parish priest Fred Mascarenhas Louis and Nada Gregory institution head Silvester Almeida conveyed their best wishes. Trasi gram panchayat vice president Jeetha D'Silva, Nada gram panchayat member Jane Mary Olivera, contractor Kiran D'Costa, Don Bosco school head Fr Maxim, Fr Leo, Trasi gram panchayat PDO Shobha, former taluk panchayat members Sathish M Nayak, Prabhu Kennedy Pereira and others were present.
Former taluk panchayat president Anantha Movadi welcomed. Subrahmanya Achar compered the programme.
“The state government has released funds for construction of several bridges in Byndoor. Some bridges are already constructed and inaugurated. Karnataka State Road Development Corporation has released Rs 7 crore for Movadi bridge and the work is set in motion. There are several suspicions in the minds of people regarding construction of Movadi bridge. They have been cleared and green signal for quality construction is shown. I have worked as per the expectations of people after getting elected. Development works that were unseen in the past will be conducted here,” said Poojary.
Answering to the allegations of people that KSRTC buses do not ply on new roads and the department officials and MLAs have bowed to private bus lobby, he said, “KSRTC buses were started on roads where there was no bus service. As there is demand for mini buses, the buses on Karkala routes are asked to ply on these roads. As there is no scope for purchase of buses under town transport scheme, the state government will have to buy new buses. So the process of their purchase is in progress. Discussions will be held with the department DC why services on new roads were suspended so that all the buses may be put to service. There is no question of bowing to the lobby of private bus owners,” he said.
New bus depot in Byndoor
“Rs 5 crore have been approved to start new KSRTC bus depot in Byndoor, centre of taluk. The work will start soon. Government buses will be introduced in all the roads wherever there is demand after the bus depot is functional,” said Poojary.
Responding to demand for flyover in Byndoor, he said that he has requested PWD minister and MP several times for the flyover. “Several groups and associations in Byndoor have resorted to protests for it in the past. Local MP had asked for time till Feb 10. The month is over but there is no response. The four lane work on national highway will be over in three or four months. Construction of flyover after the work is difficult. There are rumors that the highway authority at the center has rejected the proposal. All the possible attempts will be made for it,” he said.
Speedy work ordered
Replying to reporters that the four lane work from Trasi to Kundapur is not progressing as expected, he said that he has asked to complete the work before the start of monsoons. “The problems of accidents and hardships due to irregular national highway work have been brought to the notice of IRB Company. I have asked to complete the work as soon as possible,” he said.