Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Mar 26: District in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj on Sunday March 26 inspected Malpe- Padukere beach along with deputy commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis.
After inspecting the surroundings, he said, "Padukere beach is a virgin beach with good potential for development. It will be developed into a major tourist centre. Malpe-Padukere bridge constructed at a cost of Rs 17 crore has already been completed.
"We have decided to bring Padukere beach under the Malpe Beach Development Committee to supervise its development. A parallel road will be constructed up till the beach shore. There is a fund of Rs one crore available under Malpe Beach Development Committee," Madhwaraj said.
The minister also instructed the officials concerned on the plan to construct toilets, benches, showers, dressing rooms, home stay facility, huts and some eateries at the beach.
He strictly instructed the officials to ensure that workers do not harm locals' plantations while surveying the government land.
"Nowadays, there is scarcity of fish in the coastal areas, so this (beach) would be a substitute means of livelihood for them," he added.
CMC commissioner Manjunathayya, president Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje, nominated member Janaradhan Bhandarkar, tahsildar Maheshchandra, block Congress Udupi president, Satish Amin Padukere and others were present.
Later, he visited Shimbra-Parari under-construction bridge at Parampalli, and after examining the work, Pramod said, "I have given the concerned eight months to complete the work. About 40% physical progress has been achieved and 35% of the total payment has been given to the contractor. There are some aspects of land acquisition process pending and the DC will take up further negotiation for settlement of land. By the end of December this year, the bridge will be inaugurated."
He also informed that nearly Rs 77.50 lac has been released for bridge and road construction work.
Later, he visited the under-contruction Kuradi-Neelavar bridge on Sita river, which was recommended by Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes during his tenure as the union transport minister.
After inspecting the work Madhwaraj said, "The bridge is being constructed at a cost of Rs 9 crore. The bridge is 128 m long, 7.50 m wide, and has 6 arches. A 1.4 km long road to Neelavar and 2.1 km long approach road to Kuradi are being built along with the bridge. About 80% of the construction work has been done and it will be opened before May end. There is no land acquisition issue here.
"This is a shortcut for all Kuradi, Mandarthi and Barkur people to reach Manipal through Shimbra-Parari bridge, instead of taking the long Brahmavar-Barkur-Udupi route.
"If all the bridges get completed at once, my vision 2025 will get fulfilled shortly. I will also think of bringing KSRTC bus facility to the people in these areas," he added.
PWD engineer Chandrashekhar, zilla panchayat member Umesh Nayak and others were present.