Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)
Kundapur, Oct 22: Former MP, Jayaprakash Hegde, informed that in-principle approval has been given for widening of the underpass being built at Basrur Murukai here to enable even bigger vehicles to negotiate it without problem. Underpass work at this spot is already in progress.
Hegde visited the site of the underpass in the company of project director of National Highways Authority of India, Samson Vijayakumar, on Monday October 21. He noted that the current underpass is 7.5 metres wide and five metres in height and hence multi axle buses, bullet tankers, and fire trucks cannot enter the highway through this underpass.
"There is a proposal to convert Shivamogga-Kundapur state highway into national highway. Therefore, because of this underpass, connectivity between the town and Shivamogga should not be cut off in future, and there is a need to ensure that increase in vehicular traffic does not pose problems," requested representatives of Engineers Association and Nagarika Samiti. Officials of Navayuga Infra, which is executing the road work, said that getting sanction for change in the plan and design will take about a year.
Hegde then contacted chief general manager of the highways authority and spoke to him on phone. He also asked the concerned to send representation through the district deputy commissioner. He told the media that the authorities have agreed for 10.5 meter wide and 5.5 meter high design with separate tunnel inside the underpass for the pedestrians. In this connection, he also met the district deputy commissioner at Udupi in the afternoon.
The locals told the officials and Navayuga representatives that if they cannot provide underpass of enough width, it would be better to arrange for level crossing as otherwise the underpass will fail to serve the purpose.
Raghavendra and Shankar of Navayuga Company, municipal councillor, Girish H, Kishore Kumar of Nagarika Samiti, president of Engineers Association, B M Gururaj Rao, architect, Iqbal, Chetan Hegde and others were present.