The 63-km-long four-lane concrete road project from B.C. Road to Addahole on Mangaluru–Bengaluru National Highway 75, which has come to a halt, is unlikely to resume soon even as it has turned out to be a political issue in Dakshina Kannada.
The information furnished by a senior official of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at a meeting called by Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, here on Wednesday unfolded the reasons for the project coming to a halt.
The MP had called the meeting to review the progress of national highway and railway projects in the district.
H.S. Linge Gowda, project director, Project Implementation Unit, NHAI, Hassan, told the meeting that owing to landslips in the project implementation area during this rainy season, an additional 47.2 hectares of land was required for the project originally estimated at ₹821 crore. Though the process for acquiring additional land at 110 locations had been fast-tracked, the compensation amount required was yet to be calculated, he said.
In addition, the project now requires another ₹221 crore. The fund is required for constructing four flyovers or vehicular underpass at Melkar junction, Panemangaluru, Nekkiladi at Uppinangady, and at Kadaba–Kukke Subrahmanya Cross Road at Uppinangady. The flyovers were not in the original plan. They were added on demand for them by elected representatives. They would require about ₹113 crore.
He said that about ₹108 crore was required for taking wildlife mitigation measures such as creating underpass for the movement of wild animals.
The project director said that in this case the project implementation unit in Hassan had powers to allow for 10% cost escalation and the executive committee of the NHAI was empowered to do so up to 15%. But as the additional cost has been estimated at about 26%, it required approval from the government. However, he said the works would not be stopped for long and they would go on.
But sources in Larsen & Toubro, the project contractor, told The Hindu that now it was left with 22 km spread across 73 locations as the project area was issue-free.
Rai’s warning
On Tuesday, the former Minister B. Ramanath Rai warned the Central government of launching a paadayaatra from Addahole to B.C. Road if it does not immediately recommence four-laning work of National Highway 75.
Speaking to reporters here, Mr. Rai regretted that a majority of infrastructure projects undertaken by Central government agencies, including Mangaluru–Moodbidri national highway and flyovers at Pumpwell and Thokkottu, in the district were in limbo. These stalemate speak volumes about the efficiency of the Central government as well as the Lok Sabha member, he said.
Mr. Rai noted that four-laning work of Bengaluru–Mangaluru NH 75 between Hassan and B.C. Road was sanctioned during the United Progressive Alliance regime. Larsen & Toubro was entrusted with the work between Addahole and B.C. Road, he said, and added that all necessary clearance under the Forest Conservation Act had been obtained and land conversion for 36 hectares too was completed.
Though everything was clear for executing the project, the work has come to a standstill because of lack of clarity between the Central government, the National Highways Authority of India and the contractor.
