MP Nalin warns highway contractors - Stop toll collection or face arrest

Mangaluru: MP Nalin Kumar gave words to his anger on the never ending work on the construction of the flyovers by speaking at a meeting of the senior officials of the national highway authority and representatives of contracting company held on Wednesday morning at his office and at a hotel in the afternoon.

“All deadlines given to you to complete flyovers at Thokkottu and Pumpwell have passed. We have been tired of facing public wrath. I hereby give you an option – either stop toll collection at Talapady tollgate till the work is completed or be prepared for get arrested,” warned the MP

Reminding the officials that they had been given fresh deadlines to finish the flyover works each time the MP said “I have lost patience. You can stay inside the prison. Your higher officials come here only when you are jailed. On the other hand, stop collection of toll charges. Only then the top brass understands the seriousness of the issue,” he observed.

Speaking at the meeting, Navayuga Infrastructure general manager, A S N Murthy, and chief project director, Shankar Rao, said that flyover work and toll collection are altogether different issues. They also sought more time to bring the issue to the notice of higher ups in the company. The MP advised them to confess they are unable to complete flyovers and offered to get the work done through local contractors.

City sub-divisional officer Ravichandra Nayak, informed that several cases have already been registered against the contractor in connection to the chaos at Nanthoor and Pumpwell circle. There is provision to file more such cases, he said.

NHAI Bengaluru regional manager, R K Sooryavamshi said that a letter can be sent to the ministry seeking to know as to why toll collection should not be stopped because of delay on executing works.

Nalin directed the concerned to gather pace to the land acquisition process for Mangaluru – Karkala highway via Moodbidri and make arrangements for the laying of foundation by the union minister by February 20. He informed that the managing director of Navayuga would be summoned to the city on February 28 and a meeting would be held at 5 pm that day.  if a final decision about the works cannot be arrived at, then the toll collection would be stopped without allowing further time, warned Nalin.

The MP asked officials to resume suspended works on B C Road – Gundya stretch immediately and to close potholes on highway before February 3 failing which, case would be registered against the project director and contractor.