Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Dec 24: The highway over-bridge construction at Baikampady has been mired in controversies and confusions on account of lack of proper communication and coordination between the highway department and different state departments. The department took several years to complete this 300-metre long over-bridge. In response to complaints of traffic snarls received from various quarters, local MLA, Mohiuddin Bava, arrived at the spot on Wednesday December 23 and inaugurated the over-bridge on the spot without notice, thus paving for movement of traffic on this road.
The highway department has completed its work and has been waiting to give final touches to the over-bridge. Mescom is yet to shift its 11 kv cables located above the over-bridge. Although contract for this work has been allotted, work is yet to begin. As high tension cables pass through this stretch at a low height, huge vehicles will find it hard to move on the over-bridge for the present.
The locals, frustrated at unending queues of the vehicles causing traffic jams at Baikampady since several years, brought a backhoe and cleared things lying on the road. The MLA, who came to the spot, questioned officials of highway department and Mescom, and expressed his resentment at the communication gap between these departments. He asked Mescom to execute cable shifting work during nights, as otherwise people will face problems. He inaugurated the over-bridge in a hurry by cutting the ribbon.
Former minister, Krishna J Palemar, reacting to the development, criticized Bava for inaugurating the over-bridge in a hurry without informing the MP or officials of the department, this being a central government project. While agreeing that the department of highways was to blame for the delay, he pointed out that election code of conduct is in force because of council election, and that his party will soon take a decision about filing complaint with the election commission on transgression of code of conduct by the MLA. He charged Bava of failing to bring any grant from the state government, and trying to project a central government project as his own.