Land acquisition for Shiradi Ghat tunnel awaiting government’s nod

Bengaluru: The detailed project report (DPR) for the tunnel proposed along the Shiradi Ghat stretch has been approved by the government and tenders would be floated for the work in the next phase.  The land acquisition regarding the same shall begin soon.

The tunnel has been proposed for a distance of 23.57km on Shiradi Ghat, from Addahole in Dakshina Kannada to Heggadde in Sakleshpura. The estimated cost of six lane bridge across Phalguni river in Mangaluru on NH66 is Rs.69.02 crore. The six tunnels will be 12.60 km long and the seven bridges will be 1.5 km long. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) division of Hassan is awaiting government’s approval for issuing the notification.

Another DPR was proposed seven years ago by the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) at the cost of Rs.10,015 crore. They had proposed six tunnels through Addahole, Gundya, Edakumeri, Kadagaravalli, Maranahalli and 10 bridges. The government had initially planned to go with JICA’s proposal but now the project at a revised cost will be implemented under Bharathmata, stated a report.

Speaking of land acquisition, the report mentioned that a major portion of the land  that passes through comes under government and around 30% of land required for the project comes under private ownership. The land acquisition will begin once the government approves it.

While laying the foundation for 33 National highway projects in Karnataka on December 19, Nitin Gadkari, Union minister for Road Transport and Highways, said that the Shiradi tunnel project was lying idle for many years and he’s been going through the project reports since he took charge of the project He even informed that a revised DPR has been approved by the government.

As permanent restoration works on Shiradi Ghats, Prof B R Srinivas Murthy, retired from IISc Soil Engineering Department has proposed works on soil nailing for huge hillocks, gabion walls for medium hillocks and micro filling for small hillocks on the stretch.

The project is expected to boost exports through New Mangalore Port as the exporters from Bengaluru now depend on Chennai port owing to poor roads in Shiradi Ghat.