Congress to Hold Protest against Delay in Pumpwell Flyover work – J R Lobo
Mangaluru: “From the past 7 to 8 years the construction work of the Pumpwell and Thokkottu flyover is going on in slow motion. People using this road are facing a lot of inconveniences. Normally the construction of any flyover will take a year, but in Mangaluru from the past 7 to 8 years, there is no progress in the Pumpwell flyover work. Recently I read in one newspaper that the MP of Dakshina Kannada handed over a memorandum to Minister Nitin Gadkari, requesting to release funds to complete the National Highway work and the Kulai Jetti work. Why has the MP waited for 7 long years to hand over a memorandum to the minister asking for funds? The South and North Block Congress party workers will stage a protest against the delay in completing the Flyover in Pumpwell, on August 1, at 10:0 am”, said former MLA J R Lobo in a press meet held at the DCC office, Mallikatta here on July 30.
Addressing the mediapersons Lobo said, “When I was the MLA, I had insisted the MP to complete the flyover work soon. Why did the MP not request his own government to release the funds to complete the work When BJP came to power in the centre. Now when the Lok Sabha elections are nearing, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel is suddenly awake and has started the blame game. 7 to 8 years have already passed and the people have suffered a lot. If the MP gives the memorandum now, when will the government sanction the funds, and when will the work be completed? When Oscar Fernandes was the Union Minister for Surface Transport, under his able leadership the construction work of the Shiradi Ghat was sanctioned and funds were released but now MP Nalin is unable to continue the work. Everyone now goes there for photo shoots, but the credit goes to Oscar Fernandes.”
Lobo further said, “There is confusion in the work of the Nanthur junction, whether a flyover or underpass is being constructed by the National Highway is not clearly known. It is the failure of national Highway authority and the elected MP. The MP has failed to take the National Highway authorities into confidence to complete the work. We are taking this issue to the people and holding a huge protest at the Pumpwell circle. All of us should take part in the protest to bring the issue to the notice of the Central government. Also, if the problem of Nanthur and KPT will not be solved soon we will hold protests. For any national highway, four lanes should be constructs first with provisions for the service road. But in Bikkaranakatta the service road is pathetic, it looks like a road in the slum area which is a shame for us. Mangaluru is a growing city and the national highway road work is not yet completed, bridges are collapsing but no action has been taken. We will bring this to the notice of the people by holding protests. The elected representatives should solve the problems of the people.”
Congress leaders Taranath Kallige, Salim, Mariamma Thomas and others were also persent.