Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, March 1: In a bid to tackle the growing traffic concerns, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has announced plans to construct service roads at four crucial spots along the Mulky-Talpady highway stretch.
The revelation came after MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta raised a series of pressing questions about the delayed service road construction on the Mulky-Hejmadi stretch during the District Development Coordination and Monitoring (DISHA) meeting.
Held at the Zilla Panchayat on Saturday, March 1, the meeting saw key officials provide much-needed updates on several road infrastructure projects.
Abdulla Javed, NHAI’s representative, confirmed that the service roads will be constructed at Mulky, Padupanambur, Haleyangadi, and Beeri, with construction set to commence post-monsoon. This comes as part of the ongoing efforts to improve connectivity and address traffic congestion in the region.
Javed also shared optimistic progress on other ongoing projects, revealing that 95.4% of work has been completed between Addahole and Periashanthi, and 75% of work is completed from B C Road to Periashanthi. The much-anticipated Kalladka flyover is nearing completion and will be open to traffic by April.
Adding to the good news for commuters, Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) officials announced that construction of a service road from Pumpwell to Gorigudda will begin next week, at an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore, aimed at easing traffic flow in this densely populated area.
Amid the infrastructure discussions, MLA Umanath Kotian raised concerns about the toll burden on local residents of Hejmady Grama Panchayat, demanding toll-free access at the Hejmady toll gate. NHAI responded, assuring that concessional passes had been issued to residents.
In response, MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta ordered the Deputy Commissioner to arrange a dedicated meeting to further address the issue and find a lasting solution.
In a bid to improve public transport services, MP Capt Brijesh Chowta also directed KSRTC officials to look into launching a bus service from Nettana to Subramanya Kshetra, a move that could provide better connectivity to the pilgrimage town following the extension of the Mangaluru Central to Kabaka Puttur train service to Subramanya Road.
In light of rising concerns over law and order, MLC Kishore Kumar urged authorities to take immediate action against the increasing drug menace in the region, which is reportedly affecting local communities.
The meeting also saw MLA Harish Poonja raise alarms over the upcoming closure of Shiradi Ghat for a month starting March 15. The decision, issued by the Hassan Deputy Commissioner, is expected to cause a significant disruption in the district, with Poonja urging coordination between authorities to minimise the impact on commuters.
As infrastructure projects continue to shape the future of the region, it’s clear that these ongoing efforts aim to address both traffic bottlenecks and the growing concerns of residents.