Work on construction of the Road under Bridge (RuB) on Padil-Bajal Road, which was stopped during the monsoon, has resumed. This has kindled some hope among the residents of Bajal, Jalligudde and surrounding areas. Being undertaken by the Southern Railway and the Mangaluru City Corporation, the Rs. 5.61crore-project got delayed by nearly a year and it is likely to take at least another four months to be completed. At present, the authorities have opened the earth from Bajal-side and are in the process of diverting a perennial water stream at the bottom of the RuB. A senior official with the Southern Railway told The Hindu that the Railways could complete its part of the work in about a month — giving final touches to the underpass etc. However, it is the responsibility of the MCC to build the approach road on the Bajal-side, he said.
Land acquisition
According to a senior official with the MCC, about half an acre of land on both the sides of the RuB has to be acquired to complete the approach road towards Bajal.
A culvert has to be built on the major drain (over the stream) to make the approach road and the MCC council is likely to sanction about Rs. 1.8 crore for the work, he said.
The council is also likely to approve the proposal to acquire two pieces of land on both the sides of the RuB. The land is required for the approach road as well as two connecting roads, one towards Veeranagara and the other towards Vijayanagar, the official said. He said while the owner of one parcel of land on which plantation crops are grown has almost agreed to part with the required land, the other is yet to agree.
Nevertheless, the Corporation would have to acquire the required land. In a matter of about a month, the process would be completed, he added.
Abnormal delay
While the Railways has almost completed work falling within its jurisdiction, including pushing the concrete boxes beneath the tracks, the MCC did not furnish drawings of approach roads to the Railways despite repeated reminders.
This has prolonged the construction process, the Railway official said.
Satish, a civil engineering contractor residing at Bajal, said the residents are put to great hardship as they have to move on circuitous routes. City bus services have been affected thereby inconveniencing the common man, he said.
