Work on Punjalkatte-Charmadi national highway in Dakshina Kannada restarts

Work on Punjalkatte-Charmadi national highway in Dakshina Kannada restarts

Mangalor Today News Network

Mangaluru, August 12, 2024: The long-pending Punjalkatte - Charmadi national highway work has finally restarted, said Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta on Sunday

The MP said follow-up meetings were held continuously for the last two-months to address the various concerns faced by people and find a feasible solution to the ongoing work of the highway.

"Now the work has begun under the back-to-back model of National Highway and has been entrusted to Mugrody Constructions from D P Jain," he said.

The MP visited the ongoing work of the highway at Kashibettu in Belthangady along with Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja and department officials on Sunday.

The MP said that he will hold discussion on the highway works with Union Minister Nithin Gadkari on August 13. The contractor has been asked to make the stretch motorable in the next one month. Later, works will be taken up as per the timeline.

MLA Harish Poonja said that the completion of the road work will help in the promotion of tourism in the taluk.

Commuters inconvenienced

Due to the incomplete work of the road, those who were visiting Dharmasthala, Sauthadka, Surya Temple, Gadayikallu were inconvenienced.

The recent rain had turned the entire stretch slushy and motorists were inconvenienced. The work on the highway is being taken up at a cost of Rs 714 crore.

Whenever it rains, water flows on the road in Ujire Pete and inconveniences the vehicle owners. There are several instances of two-wheeler riders meeting with accidents.

Motorists are facing a lot of problems at Guruvayanakere, Kashibettu, T B Cross, Mundaje, Somanthadka to commute. "There is a block at Somanthadka almost daily. The dug road has led to huge potholes. As a result, vehicles struggle to move," said a daily commuter.