In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Mangalore City Corporation has offered to bear the entire estimated cost of Rs. 3.69 crore to construct a road under bridge (RuB) at Jeppu-Kutpady.
The Railway, had recently said that it would undertake construction of bridges at certain places only if the corporation comes forward to foot the whole bill. The corporation was hoping that the Railways would undertake such projects on cost-sharing basis and the latest stance of the Railways had put a question mark on demands for railway bridges.
Earlier the corporation had paid Rs. 9 lakh to the Southern Railway as centage charge for the proposed bridge. The civic body will pay Rs. 3 crore immediately and the remaining amount later. The bridge will provide road connectivity to families in Jeppu-Kutpady-Dhota and link it to national highway.
This was announced at the monthly meeting of the council here on Thursday.
Also, Mayor Mahabala Marla announced that he had approved construction two parallel road over bridges through the railways by making advance payment to the Southern Railway.
Additional bridgesThe Mayor said that he has given approval for paying centage charges (advance) of Rs. 12.60 lakh and Rs. 11.60 lakh for road over bridges at Jeppu, one near Marnamikatta Circle and the other one near Morgan’s Gate. These bridges would be parallel to the existing ones.
The corporation recently paid Rs. 13 lakh as centage charge to the Southern Railway to construct a road under bridge at Mahakalipadpu. Its overall estimated cost is Rs. 6.69 crore.
StreetlightsWhen several councillors complained that the electrical contractors in the civic body were not serious enough in ensuring that all streetlights were in working condition, the Mayor instructed that the corporation should identify such contractors. They should not be allowed to participate in bids for maintaining streetlights next time.
Ivan D’Souza, MLC, said that the civic body should stake claim for including Mangalore in the Union government’s proposed smart city project.
HonorariumHe said that he would press the government in the next winter session of the Legislative Council to hike the honorarium to all councillors of city corporations to Rs. 10,000 per month.
The MLC said that the civic body should take increasing traffic jam in the city seriously and take effective steps for de-congesting the city.
The Mayor said that he would convene a special meeting of the council within the next fortnight to discuss development matters and traffic issues.
