The “temporary” upgrading/improvement/development of the Thokottu to Mani road will be completed before the monsoons, according to Minister for Public Works H.C. Mahadevappa, who laid the foundation stone for the Rs. 6.5 crore project here on Saturday. The road will be widened by a metre on either side.
Traffic The 26km stretch of road sees a steady stream of traffic towards the colleges at Deralakatte, Mangalore University and Infosys campus. However, the proposal to convert it into four lanes is subject to land acquisition.
The road will be temporarily widened and bus bays built to allow for smoother flow of vehicles, said the Minister. The State would bear Rs. 1.5 crore of the project cost, while the rest is being taken out of the Central Road Fund, he said.
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“The tender process is done and so work should begin immediately. On the four-laning, the process to acquire nearly 18m of land along the road has started,” he said.
Nearly 15 kms of the road (up till Kumbalabettu) will be widened on either side – from 5.5m to 7.5m – said local MLA and Minister for Health and Family Affairs, U.T. Khader.
Earlier, the Ministers visited Mastikatte (Ullal Darga) junction and promised to upgrade the road linking the town municipality to the highway at a cost of Rs. 2.5 crore.
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“Trucks carrying up to 40 tonnes have been plying on this road from the fishing harbour to the highway. We have sanctioned Rs. 2.5 crore to upgrade the road to handle the traffic and load,” said Mr. Mahadevappa.