Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 24: It is learnt that objections have been received for the road map of the four-lane model ring road costing Rs 2,800 crore that aims at easing the vehicular pressure on national highways in Dakshina Kannada district. Because of the objections, the National Highways Authority of India has reportedly decided to get re-survey of the road map and get a report thereof.

The ring road is proposed to be built between Mulky - Polali - Kateel - Mudipu - and Thokkottu at a cost of Rs 2,800 crore. As the cost of this road is high, the authority had thought of changing the road map and hence it has sought fresh survey of both the roads and file full report. Surprisingly, union minister, Nitin Gadkari, had laid the foundation stone for the road for which the authority wants resurvey, and for which detailed project report was prepared in the past.

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The authority argues that as per the original plan, the existing roads would be widened, which results in steep hike in the cost of acquisition of land. Legal hurdles would also be many. If new road is laid on greenbelt basis, more areas get a chance of development and cost of land acquisition would be less, it argues.

Under the earlier plan, a 1.5 km flyover was planned for Kateel. There will be separate bridge at Kateel and flyover at Bajpe. 'A flyover over NH 169 is also planned. But the Member of Parliament has objected to the plan of National Highways Authority of India to build two roads. Therefore, the authority now plans to conduct detailed study of the two roads including private land to be acquired, buildings which will face demolition, and other details.

Nalin Kumar Kateel said that the ring road plan will not be changed, and the national highways authority has been told to move ahead with the original plan of widening the existing roads for which foundation stone was laid by the union minister.