Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Oct 11: In an important development, the Supreme Court in its recent verdict has opined that an investigation by Central Bureau of Investigation into the substandard road works executed in Shiradi Ghat section of national highway 48 between the city and Bangalore, as ordered by the state High Court, is not necessary.  It has said in its order, that instead of CBI Inquiry, spot inspection by a team of experts by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, should be conducted, and that the team should submit its report on reasons for the road getting damaged soon after the repairs, and whether substandard works was observed, to the state and central governments.

It may be recalled that different studies and surveys have repeatedly recommended for building a concrete road in Shiradi, as tar road is found to be getting repeatedly damaged. The central government is dithering in the matter because of the huge cost involved. However, people also note that this road had stood the traffic burden of buses and other vehicles all these years, but suddenly had gone bad, only after ore-laden trucks started moving on this stretch in large numbers since 2005.

The state High Court, which had taken up public interest litigations, moved by different persons about the pathetic state of Shiradi Ghat stretch of the national highway, had ordered in October 2008, for a CBI investigation. Against this order, two contractors who had executed part of the road works, had approached the Supreme Court. Reportedly, part of the bills of these contractors is also pending payment, because of the pending dispute over quality of works.