Setting new deadlines, Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, said here on Thursday that the flyovers at Thokkottu and Pumpwell on NH66 should be completed by April 10 and May 31, respectively.
This was decided in a meeting attended by Mr. Kateel, top officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and C. Sridhar, Managing Director of Navyug Engineering Co. Ltd., builders of the flyovers.
Vaibhav Dange, Private Secretary to the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, also attended the meeting.
Mr. Kateel told presspersons after the meeting that Mr. Gadkari has resolved the financial constraint being faced by the concessionaire for completing the four-laning project between Kundapur and Talapady. The work to the extent of ₹50 crore is pending.
Under instructions from Mr. Gadkari, Mr. Kateel said Axis Bank has agreed to grant a loan of ₹55 crore to the concessionaire for completing the project. In addition, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will release ₹7 crore for completing the service roads in another two days.
“Hence, we have now arrived at the final timeline for completing the project,” Mr. Kateel said.
While March 15 has been fixed as the deadline for completing service roads and improvement of traffic junctions in Thokkottu and Pumpwell, the work on Thokkottu flyover and underpass near Mahakali temple in Ujjodi should be be over by April 10.
Mr. Kateel said flyover in Pumpwell should be completed by May 31.
“Responsibility is on the NHAI Regional Officer (R.K. Suryavawanshi) and Mr. Sridhar to ensure that this deadline is adhered to,” Mr. Kateel said, and added that legal consequences will follow if the deadlines are not met. Started in September 2010, the four-laning project has been almost completed except for the flyovers in Thokkottu and Pumpwell in Mangaluru and Shastri Circle in Kundapur.
