Delay in completion of work – ‘Surathkal to Kundapur Highway is Die Way’
Udupi: The National Highway 66 from Surathkal to Kundapur work is not completed even after 10 years. In 2010 Navayuka Company had agreed to finish work in three years. But the company has failed to complete this work in the past 8 years. From last 6 years the Flyover work of Kundapur Shastri Circle and Underpass work of Karavali Junction is still incomplete. Impact of the negligence of Highway authority the National Highways is becoming the die way of Udupi district.
The work was taken up in two sections — Karnataka/Kerala border from Talapady to Nanthoor in Mangaluru and Surathkal (NITK) to Kundapur, as the stretch between Nanthoor and Surathkal NITK had been four-laned under the Port Connectivity Scheme. Though the work started in 2010, it faced many roadblocks, particularly at important locations and junctions.
The slow pace of the flyover work in Kundapur Junction is causing severe inconvenience to the vehicle users, also resulting in accidents. As the rains have intensified in the region, stagnation of rainwater in potholes is a problem for vehicle users and pedestrians. It has been almost three years since the work was initiated, but there is no respite from the problems arising from the incomplete flyover project near Shastri Circle here.
As per the plan the Navayuga Company has taken 910 days of time bond to complete the 90 km of highway from Surathkal to Kundapur at a cost of Rs 674 crores. The Project started in 2010 and should have been completed by 2013 but the work has not yet been completed. Due to the delay in the work the company has crossed the budget of Rs 674 crores and has now demanded additional amount from the government.
Initially, the highway widening work was going on at a faster pace and later got delayed. The company has expanded the contract period but sadly the company have not completed the work of NH 66.
After continued complaints by the public, the Assistant Commissioner of Kundapur T Bhoobalan issued a notice to Navayuga on June 1 to show cause why an order under Section 133 of the Code of Criminal Procedure [removal of nuisance] should not be passed against the company directing it to expedite work on flyovers at Karavali Junction in Udupi town and Shastri Circle in Kundapur town.
According to Activist Sharathchandra Shetty “The Kundapur Flyover work commenced about three years back, progress has been slow. Nearly 60 percent of work yet to be complete in Kundapur and Udupi Karavali Junction. Without proper drainage system, areas near Sangam Hotel, APMC yard and KSRTC bus stand, Sharada International Junction, Karavali Junction are affected by artificial flooding whenever it rains hard. The company has no sufficient workers in both places. Only a handful of workers are working at the Kundapur and Udupi Karavali Junction”.
“Despite the many deadlines by the people representatives and district administration, Navayuga has failed to complete the work and it is shame on the company. Before completing the 90 percent of the work the company has started to collect the toll in Sasthana and Hejamadi,which is illegal. The Local MP Shobha Karandlaje also failed to address the problems of the common man. She should have to take the initiative to complete the work as soon as possible”, he said.
Speaking to Mangalorean.com Assistant commissioner Kundapur T Bhoobalan said “Due to the delay of National Highway 66 work it is turning as Die way. Due to the slow work of the flyover in Kundapur, there are frequent accidents happening daily. There is no proper drainage system to flow the rainwater. The drain water is flowing on the road”.
“The frequent complaints from the general public about severe inconvenience being caused to road users as well as the general public at Shastri Circle in Kundapur, Karavali Junction in Udupi, I have issued a show-cause notice to the Navayuga Company and asked the clarifications on the delay of the work”.
The company representative submitted that the Karavali flyover could be completed in two months and sought a year to complete Kundapur Flyover work. But I have instructed the company to complete the Kundapur Flyover work in six months and Karavali Underpass work in one month, he said.