Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 29: The shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa at Kulur which has been managed and maintained by both Malayalis and Kannadigas will be vacated from its current spot within two months. The shrine is proposed to be vacated as it stands in the path of the new six-lane bridge project being executed at Kulur.

The six-lane bridge is being built on national highway 66 at Kulur across River Phalguni. The work of clearing and grubbing have already begun. A small house and trees standing between the two existing bridges have already been removed. The entire stretch is planned to be cleared before the onset of Monsoon.

Kulur Ayyappa Shrine managing committee president, Sureshchandra Shetty, said that the temple was proposed to be vacated ten years back but the management had not agreed. Now, MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, and MLA, Dr Bharat Shetty, have shown an alternative site where they have promised to arrange for temple construction. Therefore, it has been planned to shift now, he added.

National highway authorities say that the shrine is located in the land belonging to national highways and therefore there is no question of land acquisition or payment of compensation. They said that the temple was asked to be evicted when the highway between B C Road and Surathkal was widened. However, providing alternative site or temple is left to the discretion of the state government, the officials say.

The bridge, which will be the widest bridge in coastal Karnataka having six lanes will be built between the two current bridges. Contract for the construction has been bagged by Pune-based Shindhe Developers Pvt Ltd. Cost of the project is Rs 70 crore.