NHAI set April 11 deadline to resolve woes of residents

Vehicle openings are to be provided between two flyovers in Kundapur

With no opening either for pedestrian or vehicular crossing for about 2 km between two flyovers of Basrur Moorkai Junction and Shastri Circle, a pedestrian waits to cross the road on National Highway 66 in Kundapur town. | Photo Credit: ANIL KUMAR SASTRY

Putting to rest a nearly two-year ordeal of residents of Kundapur town in negotiating two flyovers on National Highway 66, Kundapur Assistant Commissioner K. Raju on Thursday set a deadline of April 11 for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to provide openings for vehicles in between the two flyovers.

He also asked the NHAI to ensure the street lights on the nearly 2-km stretch between Basrur Moorkai vehicular underpass and Shastri Circle Flyover are lit up by the deadline.

If the authority fails to implement the direction, the Government will initiate suitable action, he cautioned. Mr. Raju was chairing a meeting of various stakeholders involved with the national highway four-laning project at Kundapur.

The Assistant Commissioner said that residents of and visitors to Kundapur are facing severe hardship with the wall-like structure of two flyovers that divide the town. They are being forced to travel extra miles to enter and exit the town, he said and added that despite repeated reminders the NHAI did not act on grievances.

Mr. Raju told The Hindu that openings for vehicles for entry and exit have to be provided with enough speed restriction on the flyover stretch near Bobbaryanakatte. If the move becomes successful with a month’s trial, it should continue, he said. The highway concessionaire should ensure that the street lights are lit up on the flyover stretch and it should put up enough signboards at the entry and exit of flyovers.

The Assistant Commissioner also asked NHAI to ensure that service roads are asphalted while all the junk kept beneath Shastri Circle Flyover are removed. It also should remove silt from shoulder drains and rainwater vents on flyovers before the monsoon.

Kundapur Tahsildar Kiran Gowraiah, TMC Chief Officer Gopalakrishna Shetty, engineers from NHAI and others were present.

NHAI Project Director, Mangaluru, Linge Gowda, said that the authority will keep its words and implement the directions.

Residents of Kundapur and Kundapur Rashtreeya Heddari Horata Samithi have been complaining about the inconvenience caused to motorists for about two years now. Even pedestrians are unable to go to the western part from the eastern part of the town along the stretch of the two flyovers.