Mangaluru: in the backdrop of a greater amount of funding being reserved in the union budget for the Bharatmala, Sagarmala projects, there is an expectation that the projects granted to Karavali and those under proposal may receive a much required speed. Altogether 4 projects have been approved under Bharatmala scheme for DK and Udupi district, while 6 other projects are in the proposal stage. There are 7 projects under Sagarmala scheme of which a few have been approved while the other few are in DPR and proposal stages.
Bharatmala and Sagarmala are two ambitious projects of Prime Minister Modi with the aim to develop road connectivity throughout the country and the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has set aside Rs 80,250 crore for the schemes.
Bharatmala scheme
Mangaluru by-pass road (BC Road – Kaikamba – Kateel – Mulki road and Thokkottu – Mudipu – Melkar road four laning) has been granted under Bharatmala project and is currently in the DPR stage.
Conversion of Karkala – Kulshekar national highway into a four lane highway and the development of Mani – Mysuru national highway has been approved. The work on the road between Malpe – Atradi in Udupi is in progress.
Karkala – Moodbidri – BC road creation, construction of a 23.6 km long tunnel at Shiradi Ghat along Mangaluru – Bengaluru national highway at the cost of Rs 10,000, Mangaluru – Bengaluru express highway, national highway between Mangaluru – Chitradurga, conversion of the national highway between BC road – Surathkal into an eight-lane road and the development of Charmadi Ghat road are in the proposal stage.
Sagarmala project
The Sagarmala project has included some projects for DK and Udupi districts. The projects include the creation of a coastal economic zone (CEZ) at the cost of Rs 3,000 crore in Mangaluru, development of the river side from Bengre to Netravati vented dam at the cost of Rs 100 crore, creation of a riverside road connecting Bunder – Kuloor NMPT, creation of a jetty for traditional fishing, development of the jetty at Hejmadykodi, development of Malpe fisheries port and various development works at NMPT.
