Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary, along with National Highways Authority of India Karnataka Regional Officer Vilas P. Brahmankar and Mangaluru Project Director Abdulla Javed Azmi, inspects the ongoing grade separator work on Kochi-Panvel National Highway 66 at Kallianapura-Santhekatte Junction near Udupi on January 27, 2025.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has promised to immediately restore the service roads of Kochi-Panvel National Highway at Kallianapura-Santhekatte Junction in Udupi where the authority is constructing a grade separator.
Informing this to Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary and Superintendent of Police K. Arun on January 27, NHAI Karnataka Regional Officer Vilas P. Brahmankar directed officials to commence the work immediately.
Mr. Brahmankar and NHAI Mangaluru Project Office Director Abdulla Javed Azmi rushed to Udupi following a warning by Mr. Poojary that he would be forced to launch an agitation if the authority did not provide a motorable road at Santhekatte Junction.
Officials told the MP that service roads on both sides of the Udupi-Kundapura stretch would immediately be restored with bitumen cover while the underpass would be asphalted in about three days. However, construction of the retaining wall for the underpass embankment would require some time, the officials said.
On January 17, Mr. Poojary had written to the NHAI that he would hold a dharna in front of the regional office in Bengaluru if the highway was not made motorable within a fortnight.
The NHAI had commenced the grade separator work estimated to cost ₹24 crore, through Hubballi-based contractor Trinity Constructions, on January 2, 2023. While a road over bridge would connect Kallianapura and Santhekatte, the six-lane underpass would facilitate through traffic on NH 66.
Scheduled for completion within a year, the project hit a roadblock after the contractor found a huge quantity of rock at the worksite. The delay has been causing much anguish for road users and residents of the area due to potholes and crater-ridden roads, dust and slush.
MP visits Uchhila-Bada
The MP and NHAI officials later visited Uchchila town under Uchchila-Bada Gram Panchayat in Kaup taluk where the residents had recently resorted to a sit-in dharna on NH 66 protesting alleged unscientific construction leading to accidents in the area.
Kaup MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty narrates public woes due to alleged unscientific construction of Kochi-Panvel National Highway 66 at Uchhila town to Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary and National Highways Authority of India officials, at Uchhila in Udupi district on January 27, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Kaup MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty explained to the MP and the officials the hardships being faced by residents and road users due to the absence of safe pedestrian crossing and lack of street lighting. The MLA demanded an underpass near the Mahalakshmi temple to facilitate safe crossing of people and vehicles. Also, speed breakers should be erected on service roads at the junction of the NH, he said.
Published – January 28, 2025 01:39 pm IST