Naveen Menezes
Pics: Meryick D’Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (NM)
Mangalore, May 20: Commuters who have been plying on the Pumpwell–Thokkottu stretch will have to wait for one more season to see completion of the road work. Shriram Mishra, project director, Mangalore, NHAI said, "The release of funds for the work has been stalled temporarily. We will resume the work in full swing after the monsoon season."
The widening of the Pumpwell–Thokkottu road is part of the Kundapur–Talapady National Highway 66 four-lane project which started in September 2010. Although this particular stretch is known for heavy traffic density and witnesses regular traffic blocks, the commuters will have to wait for many more months to see the completion of the stalled work.
This is not the first such wait. The work on the proposed Rs 671 crore project of widening the entire stretch - which is 110-km long - has passed several deadlines. This time, sources said that Navayuga Tollway Pvt Ltd (NTPL), which has undertaken the work, ran out of money. In addition to this, the imminent advent of monsoon has further stalled the work. As a result, the travellers will have to patiently wait yet another season.
Presently, the work for the proposed flyover in Pumpwell is at the initial stage and only ground level work has been undertaken. A single lane road has been constructed for the vehicles plying to either side while the centre stretch has been dug to erect pillars for the flyover. This problem also exists at Thokottu junction where another flyover is coming up.
Besides, along with the new three-lane Netravati bridge, the work on widening the stretch between Jeppinamogaru to Kallapu, near Thokottu is almost complete. However, the construction of four-lane is yet to start between Pumpwell and Yekkur. In addition to this, the widening of the road from Yekkur towards Yenepoya School, close to Jeppinamogaru, is incomplete.
Moreover, due to incomplete work of the flyover at Pumpwell and Thokottu junction, there is regular congestion of traffic.
Residents Worried
The work on widening of roads has a few residents in Yekkur worried. For the widening of the highway near Yekkur, part of the hill adjacent to the road has been dug. It resulted in a landslip and forced officials to stop the work in order to prevent further damage.
Presently, there are nearly nine families who live on top of the hill. Sushila (69), said, “There has already been a landslip. With the monsoon, more damage may occur. Our house is just 20 ft away from the cliff. There are school going children living here. It will be impossible for the elders to keep a watch on them all the while.”
Another resident, Chandravathi, said, “The area between the houses and the cliff has been narrowed down. We hire a vehicle to take my physically challenged child to the doctor. In addition to this, there are aged persons residing here and it will be difficult to take them out."