Udupi District Development Meeting: DC Vidya Kumari Criticizes Delays in Indrali Railway Overbridge Project
Udupi: A meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee convened today at the District Panchayat Hall in Manipal, presided over by B.Y. Raghavendra, Member of Parliament and President of the Udupi District Disha Committee. The session focused on the progress of various national highway projects, prominently featuring the Indrali railway overbridge, which has faced significant delays.
District Commissioner Dr. K. Vidya Kumari expressed her strong dissatisfaction regarding the continued postponement of the Indrali railway overbridge project. During the meeting, she admonished the National Highway 169A engineer, Manjunath, for his request for an extension to the project deadline. Manjunath cited multiple factors contributing to the delay, specifically noting that the welding work would require an additional 20 to 25 days and proposed extending the deadline to the end of March.
In a decisive response, Dr. Kumari refused to grant any extension beyond the established deadline of February 15. She emphasized that despite numerous directives aimed at expediting the project, the contractor has not demonstrated adequate efficiency in their work.
The contractor, who has been under scrutiny for failing to meet the February 15 deadline, has also faced legal action, with a complaint lodged against them by the local police station, resulting in their blacklisting. Dr. Kumari further criticized the engineer for his perceived leniency towards the contractor’s shortcomings.
The meeting was attended by Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Srinivas Poojary, Shimogga MP B Y Raghavendra, MLAs Yashpal A. Suvarna, Gurme Suresh Shetty, Kiran Kumar Kodgi, and Guru Raj Shetty Gantihole, MLC Dr. Dhananjaya Sarji, and others all of whom engaged in discussions regarding the implications of the delays on local infrastructure and development.
The District Commissioner’s firm stance reflects the administration’s commitment to ensuring timely completion of vital infrastructure projects, underscoring the importance of accountability among contractors and engineers alike.
