Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Jun 24: "The Ujire-B C Road section of the national highway is being developed, and in two years time, this road will be developed into four-lane road. We have already submitted two proposals for the development of Charmadi Ghat section of the highway. Once the forest department gives its clearance, this ghat road would be developed into a modern road," said Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha member, Nalin Kumar Kateel.

Addressing a press meet at the inspection bungalow here on Saturday June 23, Nalin revealed that tender process has already been completed for the development of B C Road-Madanthyar section of the highway. He said that proposal for the road development work between Madanthyar and Ujire also has been sent to the central government and that he expects the clearance to be received shortly.

He said that during the last four years, the Narendra Modi-led union government has undertaken various development works in the country, and Dakshina Kannada too has witnessed lot of improvements. "As per an announcement already made, the road between Mangaluru-Bengaluru-Chennai, is being widened into six-lane road. B C Road-Gundya stretch of the highway is being developed at a fast pace and Shiradi Ghat section of the highway will be reopened for traffic on July 5," he stated.

Nalin said that proposal for development of Kulshekar-Moodbidri-Karkala highway has already been submitted. He revealed that the proposal to convert Mukka-B C Road section of the highway into six lane has already received approval. "Proposals for airport runway extension, and to set up Plastic Park and Coconut Park in the district are under different stages of consideration," he explained.

Kateel stated that because of slow pace of functioning of the state government, several central government projects are facing bottlenecks. Because of failure to properly form the state ministry and allocation of portfolios, development has been lagging behind, he stated. At the same time, he ridiculed PWD minister for saying during his visit here some days back that the state would grant Rs 25,000 per km for road development, as this amount is grossly inadequate.
Nalin said that if the officials prepare action plan and send the same for central government's approval, they will get financial assistance at an early date. He explained that there were certain problems relating to tender based on CRF grants but the same have been sorted out.

Local MLA Harish Poonja, said that taluk level birth anniversary of Kempe Gowda will be organized at Vani educational institutions hall on June 27.

Former MLA Prabhakar Bangera, zilla panchayat member, Koragappa Naik, BJP leaders Pratap Simha Nayak, Jayanth Kotian etc were present.