Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 17: A team led by assistant commissioner and other revenue officials swooped down on Thokkottu Junction, supervised an operation to demolish compound walls, and gave final deadline of Monday next to completely clear the shops that have been impeding highway 66 widening work.

The revenue officials said that the operation had to be taken up as the owners of these shops had failed to comply with the instructions contained in the notices served on them over four weeks back. Equipped with a backhoe, they cleared some obstacles, which they believe, has sunk in a sense of urgency among those who were found to be sluggish in vacating the spot.

The officials razed to the ground compound walls of two complexes standing in front of Sahara Hospital at Thokkottu, front compound wall of REB Complex, and vacant ATM building of Axis Bank.

Assistant commissioner, Dr Ashok, said that the work of widening the national highway 66 had been hit badly as buildings at Thokkottu Junction have not been cleared, although the work of highway widening is in final stages. He said that vehicular traffic at Thokkottu has been hit, and the people in general are facing multiple problems.

"Compensation has already been disbursed to building owners. Notices had been served on the concerned four weeks back to clear the buildings. As they failed to vacate the buildings, we have convinced them of the urgency to vacate, by demolishing some compound walls. The work of evicting buildings will begin on Monday morning, and the owners of shops and other establishments have to clear their belongings from this spot before this deadline. Navayuga Construction Company, which has got contract for widening of this stretch of national highway 66 has almost completed work as per the plan, and the work will conclude with the construction of fly over at Thokkottu and tollbooth at Talapady. During the works, service road will be required at Thokkottu, and for this purpose, these shops have to be cleared. Work will consume 30 metres of space on either side of the road here," he explained.