Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 14: Special land acquisition officer and competent authority in national highways authority's land acquisition department, G N Manjunath, revealed that widening of the national highway 75 stretch lying between BC Road and Addahole will be undertaken during September this year.

He gave this information during the progress review meeting presided over by MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, organized at Netravati Hall of Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat on Tuesday June 13 for reviewing progress of different departments.

Manjunath said that out of 270.65 hectares of land needed for this expansion, 252.54 hectares have already been acquired. The balance land to be acquired at Kalladka, Panemangalore, and Narikombu village, will soon be acquired and handed over to the agency, he stated.

"For this purpose, trees are being felled between Gundia and Uppinangady. We are cutting down trees at the rate of 50 per day. During this period, power supply is being cut off for about six to seven hours every day. Explosives will be used to blast boulders near Gundia rivulet. Along with widening of highway, service road concreting will also be taken up. We plan to complete road works at the rate of half a km each day. Deadline of 30 months is set beginning September for completing this 65 km stretch," explained project officer of L&T, Vadiraja B Shetty.

When the MP pointed out that illegal buildings, bus stands, and shops by the side of the highway need to be vacated for the purpose, he said that a agency has already been entrusted with this work, and work will begin after maintenance during rainy season.