Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RD/CN)

 Mangalore, Jan 22: The authorities of the Mangalore Special Economic Zone Limited (MSEZL), in response to derogatory reports carried by a few dailies recently, clarified their stance in the mishap that resulted in the death of a youth near Jokatte.

They have claimed that the tipper involved in the mishap belonged neither to MSEZ nor to any of their contractors.  Further, they said that the MSEZL corridor formation has been thwarted by some vested elements in the region and had this corridor been completed, it would have prevented such an accident.

MSEZL also clarified that the Kana-Jokatte Road is being developed by taking some land from BASF along their boundary with a futuristic view of constructing a four-lane road, which will cross over the railway tracks of Konkan Railway.  

Presently, the vehicles plying from Surathkal via Bala-MRPL have to drive along the entire boundary of MRPL to reach Bajpe or Bajpe-Kateel Road. This road, being a public road, will pass through the MSEZ Colony at Thokoor. 

MSEZ is developing this stretch of road at a cost of Rs 23 crore, which will reduce the present distance between Suratkal and Bajpe by 4 to 5 kms.  MSEZ has been developing it as a two-lane road, with plans to convert it into four lanes by acquiring just a portion of the compound walls of four houses.

MSEZL further clarified that the stretch of 250 mts of road, which was concretized by the Zilla Panchayat in the last year, will form part of this development.  

It will be retained except for a 50 mt stretch which could be used as a service road for nearby houses.  The existing stretch of road has dangerous curves which will be avoided while laying the four lanes.