Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Jan 2: Much expected completion of Pumpwell flyover project, which was intended to be finished on December 31, 2019, was delayed yet again. The promise of Navyug company that the flyover will be open to public in the first week of January 2020 also has turned out to be false. Now the deadline is further extended by one month. However, going by the work that is still pending, public and officials of government really suspect whether the flyover will be ready by January 31.

According to local labourers, it will take minimum three months for the project to get completed. Thought the officials of Navyug company asked just 20 days’ time for completion of work, they have revised their deadline demand and now are asking three months. So it is highly doubtful that the flyover will be ready for use at the end of January.

As this project is inordinately delayed, continuous criticism was pouring on social media as well as print and television media. The inauguration of the flyover, which was set on January 1, 2020, was trolled extensively. In addition, comedy videos and songs are also going viral. In total, this project has become a butt of jokes for the public of Mangaluru, who are tired of hearing the postponement of deadlines umpteen times.

The criticism of the delay in project has made the work to speed up to a certain extent. A fact-finding committee, in this regard, was formed by the Dakshina Kannada Congress Committee and had visited the spot on Tuesday, January 1. In addition, they also did a mock inauguration of the flyover also.

Though the work of the flyover had got some pace since some time, last phase work of girder connection from the Karnataka Bank main office end is not yet started. This will definitely take time.

The public is also complaining that the quality of work is being compromised as it is being done in haste now by the Navyug company as there is enormous pressure on them to complete the work as soon as possible.

In the midst of all these criticisms, the lower part of the flyover is being dug now in order to increase the height of the flyover. As per the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) the flyover should be minimum 5.50 meter from ground. However, the height in the Pumpwell flyover is kept only to a level of 4.5 meters. Though many heavy vehicles got stuck under the flyover in the past, the NHAI officials were silent. However, it seems they have realized that in future this height may cause a problem and are digging the ground below now. This will also take time. Moreover, this will create chaos during the rainy season.