Thokkottu, Pumpwell may need another deadline

Mangaluru: Monsoon is fast approaching and yet Navayuga Udupi Tollway Pvt. Ltd. seems to be in no hurry to complete work on at least one of the two flyovers along National Highway 66. It seems as if the very authority of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is being challenged by the indifferent behaviour of the concessionaire.

The Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had demanded the work on the Thokkottu and Pumpwell Flyovers to be completed by March 31 and May 31 respectively. However, only a few men and machinery has been deployed at both the sites of work which appear nowhere closer to completion.

The work on Thokkottu flyover has reached ending stages and the concessionaire has almost completed the earthwork for the up and down ramps and the bitumen-laying process is pending. However, NHAI officials feel that it may take more than a fortnight to get the work done since it involves many other activities.

Pot-ridden road

Besides, the concessionaire also needs to relay the service road on either sides of the flyover, which will not be possible if it starts to rain. Thus it may be presumed that with the beginning of the monsoon, motorists using this road, especially those going towards Konaje will have to suffer a pot-ridden stretch of the service roads.

Pumpwell flyover

Despite Mr Gadkari’s warning, no positive activity is being witnesses at the Pumpwell flyover site. According to sources, with the concessionaire delaying work, NHAI has reportedly given another deadline to the company.

Before completing the flyover, the concessionaire has to build a culvert on a major storm-water drain towards Karnataka Bank head office and a pedestrian underpass at Ujjodi towards Indiana Hospital. The work on the culvert has just begun while it is worth noting that no work has been started concerning the underpass. Meanwhile, the deplorable condition of service roads here persists.