Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jan 20: Survey work on the national highway stretch from Kaikamba in Kulshekhar in the city to Karkala has been almost completed. In all possibilities, notification under section 3A for acquiring land for road widening would be issued in about two months from now.
The survey work meant to develop national highway 169 (earlier 13) into four-lane road between the city and Todar in Moodbidri, and two-lane from that point to Karkala Sanoor, had been initiated about two months back. Gurpur and Moodbidri, which are located on the line of this highway will be provided with bypass roads. Work on these two bypass roads happens to be the only pending item out of the survey work, revealed Dr D R Ashok, sub-divisional officer and land acquisition officer here. As per his calculations, this pending work would be completed in a week, and land acquisition notification may be issued in two months
Gurpur and Moodbidri towns will be provided with bypass roads instead of widening the existing highway, in order to save some religious centres and commercial buildings there. The bypass for Gurpur town will deviate about 100 metres from Gurpur bridge to the right and after passing through agricultural fields and private land, join the highway back between Bami school and Polali arch. The Moodbidri bypass will begin to the left of the highway at Todar, pass through near the road leading to Kodyadka, and reach the highway again through Alangaru, it is learnt.
The survey needs to be verified by the project director of National Highways Authority of India at Bengaluru, after which the ministry of highways at the centre will issue 3A notification. The width of land to be acquired happens to be 45 metres between the city and Moodbidri, and 30 metres from there to Karkala. The survey work did not come across resistance, except for the concerns expressed by the people about prospects of losing land by Kushekhar school and Kaikamba college as well as the mosque at Todar.
Although initially a survey was conducted by Feedbank Ventures Pvt Ltd for developing this narrow highway, which links Solapur in Maharasthra with the city, between Shivamogga and the city, it was decided to develop the stretch till Karkala initially as it is difficult to get forest department's clearance as the road passes through ecologically sensitive forest areas.