CDA to work for footbridges, fish markets urgently

CDA to work for footbridges, fish markets urgently

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 25, 2016: Addressing media on Aug 24, Wednesday,  CDA, Coastal Development Authority  Chairman Nivedith Alva said that 91 works were carried out this year and 12 works last year by the CDA at a total cost of Rs 25 crore.  He said that in 2015-16, the government sanctioned Rs 10 crore and, in 2016-17, Rs 15 crore was sanctioned in the budget.

During 2015-16, the projects of the CDA included seven fish markets, two suspension bridges, one footbridge and two parks at a cost of Rs 3.38 crore, Rs 4.25 crore, Rs 10 lakh and Rs 80 lakh respectively. A total of Rs 8.53 crore was spent on the 12 works.

Other works sanctioned in 2015-16, the suspension bridges have been constructed at Kuppepadavu in Dakshina Kannada and at Kudrugi in Uttara Kannada district at a cost of Rs 1.47 crore and Rs 2.78 crore respectively.

Eight fish markets at a budget of Rs 3.3 crore are under construction.

Work on 73 footbridges at a budget of Rs 6.67 crore and two suspension bridges at a cost of Rs 2.7 crore have been launched and are expected to be completed by next monsoon.

In 2016-17, the project distribution is as follows: 72 foot bridges at a cost of Rs 6.67 crore, eight fish markets at a cost of Rs 3.34 crore, three suspension bridges/skywalks at a cost of Rs 3.82 crore, three drains at a cost of 17 lakh, four anganwadis at a cost of Rs 40 lakh, two parks at a cost of Rs 28 lakh, one water supply project at 10 lakh. A total of Rs 14.79 crore has been distributed towards 93 works.

Nivedith Alva went on to state that during his tenure, no project was cleared without site visits. He visited 136 sites covering 83,000 km in 19 constituencies from Joida in Uttara Kannada to Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district. Before he took over, most of the works were centred in and around Mangaluru and, in rare cases, in Udupi. But, during his tenure, the focal points included smaller towns as well. The concept of modern fish markets was also introduced in this period.

The tenure of 21 months of Nivedith Alva ended on Aug 24, Wednesday.  He was appointed the chairman of the Coastal Development Authority in November 2014. He was appointed for 18 months; three months were extended later.  CDA secretary Pradeep D’Souza and member Arun Coelho were present at the press meet.