The Hindu

• The corporation is yet to commission the new water pipeline 
• NHAI team from Delhi inspects the highways
• Damaged stretches to be made motorable in 10 days

Mangalore, Dec 19: Delay on the part of Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) to commission a new water supply pipeline between Surathkal and Baikampady, six km-stretch, has come in the way of implementation of four-laning work on national highway 17 by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), according to official sources.

The sources told The Hindu that the IRCON International Limited, the agency that had been awarded the four-laning work between Surathkal and B.C. Road by the NHAI, had begun work between Surathkal and Baikampady.

Other hurdles such as shifting of telephone lines, shifting of electricity poles and cutting of trees on this stretch have been cleared. Though a new water pipeline on this stretch has been laid, the MCC has not commissioned it.

The contractor was not in a position to cut the existing water supply line unless the MCC allowed water in the new pipeline, they said.

The NHAI deposited Rs. 3.78 crore with the MCC in February 2005 for shifting of the pipeline.

The MCC should have shifted the line eight months ago, as promised by it.

As per the latest assurance given by the authorities the pipeline might be commissioned after Monday, the sources said.

Delhi team visits

The Baikampady stretch on NH-17 and Brahmarakutlu stretch on NH-48, which had been severely damaged, would be made motorable, temporarily, in the next 10 days, the sources said.

They said that a team of senior officials of the NHAI from Delhi inspected the highways in Dakshina Kannada on Friday and Saturday, and gave specific instructions to the IRCON authorities to repair the stretches in 10 days.

The team comprised Ashok Kumar, chief general manager, and Manoj Sharma, general manager. IRCON officials M.R. Choudhury, executive director (projects), and Venugopal, general manager, were also with the team.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and other associations met the team here on Saturday and apprised them on the need to repair the stretches at the earliest.