Port connectivity road to get major facelift under Sagarmala Project, says DK MP

MANGALURU:

Road connectivity

on the 37-km stretch of

National Highway

between

B C Road

and Surathkal is in for a major facelift under the union government much touted

Sagarmala project

. The proposal comprises constructing parallel flyovers, additional underpasses, widening of the NH at identified stretches, reconstructing bridges and strengthening the highways and service roads,

Dakshina Kannada

Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel said on Wednesday.

Interacting with reporters on the sidelines of a function to dedicate the road under bridge on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru National Highway 75 at Padil, Nalin said union government has given in-principle approval for upgrading above stretch of NH. The entire project will cost about Rs 500 crore, Nalin said, adding a prominent work proposed is to upgrade 7-km asphalted stretch between Baikampady and Lohitnagar in the city in to an 11-metre wide concrete road.

This has been done considering the high density of traffic on the stretch, the MP said adding the carriageway of the remaining 30 km stretch will be further strengthened as an asphalted road. The parallel fly overs will be constructed at Surathkal, Kottara Chowki and B C Road which presently have one-way fly overs. In addition, vehicular underpass have been proposed at Honnakatte near Surathkal and at Panambur, home to New Mangalore Port administrative office.

Likewise, a grade separator at Karnataka Polytechnic Junction and overpass has been mooted at Nanthoor Junction as there was a pressing demand for these facilities to ease the perennial traffic congestion caused in their absence, he said. Other works proposed include widening and strengthening service roads, constructing new service roads at identified stretches between Kottara Chowki and Surathkal, rehabilitation of minor bridges at Brahmarakootlu and Arkula.

The two existing bridges across the Phalguni River at Kulur too will be reconstructed. The existing road over bridge at Baikampady will be reconstructed, the MP said adding the National Highways Authority of India is in the process of getting necessary approvals for the works to take off. Earlier, at the function, Nalin said NHAI has chosen a contractor for operation and maintenance of the 37 km stretch at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore till works under Sagarmala project started.