Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 6: "National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) should assure that over-bridges at Pumpwell and Thokkottu would be completed by January next year, and an affidavit should be filed by the department before July 15. If this is not done, toll charges collection at Talapady tollgate would be stopped with effect from July 16," warned Dakshina Kannada MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel.

He was speaking after inspecting national highway four-laning work in progress at Thokkottu, Talapady, Pumpwell, Nanthoor, Kottara and Suratkal on Thursday July 5. He was accompanied by officials of NHAI and Navayuga infrastructure, which is executing this contract.

Nalin noted that it has been eight years since over-bridge work began at Thokkottu and Pumpwell and that repeated extension of time given to contracting firm has not got desired result. He warned that no more time would be given to the concerned to further delay the works. He instructed the officials to provide proper drainage on both sides of the highway, desilt the drains, install road signs, construct service road before the over-bridge, and to repair drains at Kottara Chowki and Suratkal. He asked chief engineer, Ravikumar, to lay service road and footpath near Talapady tollgate, and service road at Uchila.

Nalin said that local vehicles moving from Pumpwell and Thokkottu should be exempted from collection of toll charges and not to collect toll charges from local vehicles till the place where over-bridge is being constructed.

NHAI officer, Ajit, leaders like Santosh Boliyar, Satish Kumpala, and Lalita Sunder Thokkottu were present.