Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (AF)
Mangalore, May 1: The four-lane work on the stretch of road between BC Road and Suratkal has recieved much brickbats for its slow progress. The work is going on at a snail's pace and several organizations have expressed their ire through protests. Now Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has decided to hold a walkathon for the cause on Friday May 9.
Addressing a meeting here on Wednesday April 30, KCCI president Kumble Narasimha Prabhu informed that the walkathon will be flagged-off from near A J Hospital and Research Centre at Kuntikana and culminate at Kottara Chowki.
Stating a report from the project director of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) P N Gawasane, Prabhu said that only 22.22 percent of the work is over so far on 37.5 km stretch. Gawasane said that of the 17 km road from Suratkal to Nantoor 8 km has been completely asphalted. Work on the other areas like flyovers, minor brdiges, underpasses etc is progressing, he added.
The NHAI is getting the New Mangalore Port connectivity project done through IRCON International. Gawasane assured that the work on the 9.5 km stretch of NH 48 will be completed by December 2008 while that on the other stretches will be over by March 2009. NHAI and IRCON have signed an MoU on the lines that the work will be over on time, said Gawasane.
However, Prabhu expressed sceptism over NHAI and IRCON meeting the deadline, going by the slow progress. Several other issues like clearing the obstacles to work, inconvenience caused to the people due to delay were also discussed at the meeting.
Medical director of A J Hospital Dr Prashant Marla and others were present.