Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Dec 11: Dakshina Kannada MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, said that he has been informed by the officials of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) that in order to stop operation of the tollgates at Brahmarakootlu on national highway 75 and Suratkal on national highway 66, the state government too has to submit proposals.
A meeting relating to national highways passing through the district held on Monday December 10 was held in the office of the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district here. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel chaired it. In addition to the deputy commissioner, Sasikanth Senthil, zonal head of NHAI, project director, and other officials were present.
Discussions at the meeting centered on new projects of the authority in the region, progress of the current projects etc. The matter of stopping collection of toll charges at Brahmarakootlu and Suratkal also figured in the meeting.
Nalin Kumar said that he had written to NHAI authorities seeking the dismantling of tollgates at Suratkal and Brahmarakootlu. "On the basis of my letter, they took up the matter with their office at New Delhi. The officials informed at the meeting that the state government also has to send proposal to the central office of NHAI seeking cancellation of the toll. The officials told me that in case of cancellation of tollgates, the issue of road maintenance will arise, and to address it, the state has to send its proposal," he explained.
He said that the officials have promised to complete flyovers at Pumpwell and Thokkottu before the deadlines given now. He said that in order to address service road problems between Suratkal and the city, the concerned have been instructed to demolish buildings for which compensation has already been disbursed but the buildings have not yet been vacated. He revealed that L&T has agreed to continue the development of highway between B C Road and Addahole. To discuss certain problems faced by the concerned, a meeting of contracting company and officials is being held at New Delhi on December 14," he informed.
He said that the first notification for land acquisition for the upgradation of Kulshekar - Karkala road has already been issued and process will begin in January. He explained that land acquisition notification to upgrade a number of roads like the ones between Karkala-Moodbidri-B C Road, B C Road-Kaikamba-Kateel-Mulky and Thokkottu-Mudipu-Melkar would be issued during January. He also said that it has been decided to hold meetings on monthly basis in the presence of zonal officer of NHAI to discuss and sort out issues relating to national highways in the district.