NH 66 in Shambles? Travel between Pumpwell-Thokkuttu is a Nightmare for Commuters/Motorists

NH 66 in Shambles? Travel between Pumpwell-Thokkuttu is a Nightmare for Commuters/Motorists

NH 66 in Shambles? Travel between Kankanady Pumpwell to Thokkuttu is a Nightmare for Commuters/Motorists

Mangaluru: NH 66 has been in the headlines news lately, with MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA’s, MLC Ivan D’souza, and many other activists and organizations lashing at the officials of National Highways Authority of India, Mangaluru, and the contractors of concessionaire Navayuga Constructions Private Limited-Udupi for their delay in finishing the NH 66 on the Mangaluru-Talapady Highway. Even MP Kateel had slapped a fine of Rs 1.5 crore on Navayuga Constructions for their slow work, putting the commuters and motorists in hardships for the last 8 years since the NH 66 work between Talapady and Kankanady Pumpwell had started. While the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) collects hefty toll from road users using the stretch between the two destinations with utmost dedication, the authority appears to have failed to extend similar gesture in up-keeping the stretches of National Highway 66.

Forget about the non-completion of the work, the entire stretch of the road is filled with huge potholes, some places sport different sizes of water pools formed out of large potholes. The problem has been persistent for several years with NHAI undertaking pothole-filling work during summer which, however, gives way during heavy rain. Added to the woes of motorists is water stagnation and deposit of muck on the carriageway that make driving a nightmarish task on the busy highway that has been four-laned under the Port Connectivity Project. Even after eight years of work, the NHAI has failed to provide proper shoulder drain facilities at many prominent places.

The most-affected stretch between Kankanady Pumpwell and Thokkuttu poses a serious challenge to drivers. At some places due to huge potholes, drivers are forced to suddenly pull their vehicles to the extreme right thereby endangering the life of other road users. NHAI’s apathy to provide a water outlet near the construction site near Pumpwell flyover results in the formation of a mini water pool- and those on smaller vehicles are the affected lot, especially the two-wheelers. Even though the NHAI and Navayuga Constructions had promised to completely finish the work within the scheduled time few times, except filling potholes and improving certain junctions, not much work has been done.

At many spots the freshly laid bitumen surface on the old carriageway has crumbled due to water-logging thereby causing frequent traffic jams for hours on end every day. Even though MP Kateel had announced that vehicles bearing KA19 registration will be allowed toll-free movement at the Hejamadi toll gate. Free movement will also be facilitated for vehicles bearing the registration numbers prefixed with KA20, at Mukka toll gate. He said he has also directed the concerned to allow toll-free movement for vehicles of KA19 registration at the Talapady toll gate, till the work on Thokkottu bridge is completed. But MP’s announcement was all false, because toll is being still collected near Talapady Toll Way and other toll gates.

Out of curiosity Yours Truly took a trip on this Pumpwell to Talapady stretch NH 66 stretch to find out the exact facts- and to tell you frankly it was one of my most horrible journey which took nearly 50 mins- and that too wading through the congested traffic during rush hour. Just imagine if I was frustrated taking this route for just for a day, imagine the plight of those commuters who travel on this stretch daily to work, for their education and other errands. One of our office staff who travels between Thokkuttu to City has to start early in the morning to reach office, and when she leaves work in the evening, it gets dark when she reaches home stuck in the traffic jam. But does any of the concerned authorities care about the hardships and inconveniences faced by these commuters for the last so many years. Probably, Not!

Yesterday during a press meet, MLC Ivan D’souza slamming at MP Nalin Kateel and warning about staging a indefinite protest for the slow work of NH 66 said “There have been quite a few accidents, where few people have lost their lives, due to the unscientific work that is being carried out on NH 66. Why do we need a MP, who cannot construct a 40 Km road in time? How many more years are required to complete the work? Drainage water that needs to be flown in a drain is flowing on the road in areas like Kankanady Pumpwell, Nanthoor Junction, Kottara Chowki and Mulky. The toll charges are being collected without completing the highway work. I think it’s not right on the part of MP to still allow toll collection. MP Kateel has been MP for nearly a decade, while earlier MP DVS Gowda was MP- both have done nothing regarding NH’s. If the highway work is not completed, we might have to resort to protest by stalling the traffic on highways,” . Well said by MLC, but such kind of warnings in the past by many leaders have not been fruitful, with no one bothering to heed to their warnings nor press meets.

Now a public forum by the name of Ullal Central Committee Trust during one of their press meet at Mangalore Press Club frustrated over this NH 66 pathetic condition and slow work has threatened to picket the busy NH 66 in the nearest future, if they don’t get a proper response from NHAI and Navayuga Constructions. The Forum wants to clear the road below the over-bridge at Thokkuttu so that they can have easy access to the Mangalore University but no action has been taken in this regard. The Forum also wants the toll collection to be stopped, as promised by MP Kateel, but all in vain. But when Team Mangalorean approached one of the supervisors at the Talapady Tollbooth, he said, “We have to get the orders from the Road Ministry department. Just because MP Kateel announces openly that toll collection should be stopped, we will not adhere to it. The road stretch from Talapady to Thokkuttu has been completed and looks good. So who will pay for this construction cost. Toll collection will continue no matter what. And now that NHAI and Navayuga have given a certain deadline for completion of the road work, commuters and motorists have to bear with us with patience.”

U K Mohammed Mustafa- the General Secretary of the above mentioned Trust said, ” We will wait for a few days, if no action is taken by the concerned authorities we will picket the NH 66 stretch stopping road traffic because we are frustrated with the lethargy. Sadly, even ambulances maneuvering this road are finding it hard to get to the hospitals in time, where patients face the danger of losing the golden hour. When highway works in Andhra Pradesh and many other states complete their work in three months time, but the work here on this highway is taking forever to be completed. Even though they are collecting toll fee to the tune of Rs 10-12 lakhs per day, there has been no progress on the road work. Therefore, Traders associations and like-minded organizations around here have come forward to extend their support in our fight on this issue. Hope we will succeed in our fight for the benefit of motorists and commuters who use this NH 66 stretch “

So now until the blame game between NHAI, Navayuga Constructions, politicians and all other concerned authorities is over, commuters and motorists have to keep their fingers crossed, anticipating in anxiousness and urgency as to when the 8 years old pending NH 66 stretch of road will be completed. While the completion of the work is in the hands of the construction company, rest is in the hands of God?