After MP Kateel, Minister Khader Inspects Thokkuttu Flyover & says ‘It’s Unsafe & Unscientific’?

After MP Naleen Kateel, Minister U T Khader Inspects Thokkuttu Flyover & says ‘It’s Unsafe & Unscientific’?

Mangaluru : Following close on its heels after MP Nalin Kumar Kateel had done a survey/inspection of the bridge couple of days ago, I guess now it was the turn of Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister U.T. Khader did the inspection along with the officials from NHAI and Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil on the Thokkuttu Flyover on Monday, 3 June, and asked the National Highways Authority of India to come out with a plan to have a flyover or a road underpass at the junction of National Highway 66 with Ullal Main Road.

Speaking to media Minister Khader said, “Once the Thokkottu flyover is commissioned as promised from 10 June 2019, vehicles from Mangaluru towards Ullal will face difficulty in taking a right turn immediately after descending the flyover. I am making a suggestion to NHAI to make provisions for a ‘U’ turn after about 200 m of the down-ramp towards Talapady for vehicles moving to Ullal, which then would take a left turn towards Ullal through the railway over bridge. This should reduce the risks of accidents because of high traffic on the main carriageway. I have directed the NHAI officials to come out with a proposal for an underpass or a flyover from the service road as a permanent measure. The district administration too would prepare a plan and both would finalize what was appropriate”.

“I have even told the NHAI officials to accord priority for proper completion of service roads and pedestrian walkways. Vehicle users and pedestrians faced greater risks if these were done haphazardly. Looking at the present condition of the flyover it seems it is done very unscientifically and the locals are living in a fear of losing lives, due to accidents. I will soon hold a meeting with the DC and MP to find a permanent solution to the problems of the local residents. I have also urged the officials that the drains in Thokkuttu be cleared before the flyover is inaugurated” added U T Khader.

Now that MP Nalin Kumar Kateel had announced that the flyover would be opened for traffic from June 10, it looks like NHAI has hastened the work through concessionaire M/s Navayuga Udupi Tollway Pvt. Ltd. You can notice that the ramps on Talapady side are almost complete with bitumen cover while the down ramp towards the city had to get the cover. Retaining walls on this stretch too were being given finishing touches while joints of the main flyover boxes were being filled up. Now that Minister U T Khader has put forth some suggestions that need to be rectified on the flyover, citizens will have to keep their fingers crossed, whether the flyover will open for traffic on 10 June- if not whom to blame, MP Kateel or Minister Khader. This is nothing but political nataka, oh well!

NHAI Project Director Z. Samson Vijay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic and Crime) Laxmi Ganesh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M. Manjunatha Shetty and others joined the minister during the inspection.

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