Highways matters dominate Udupi CMC meeting

Highways matters dominate Udupi CMC meeting

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi. Oct 31 2015: Repair of a stretch of National Highway 169A and construction of a flyover on NH 66 at Karavali Junction dominated the general body meeting of Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC)  Oct 30.  Ramesh Kanchan, Councillor, said the  many potholes on NH 169A between Parkala and Malpe were unreasonable. The National Highways Department had assured the CMC that patchworks would be taken up in 15 days. The condition of the highway at Tiger Circle in Manipal was bad. People were cursing the CMC for the poor condition of the highway.

CMC president P. Yuvaraj said the department had done patchwork of the highway, but the subsequent rains had damaged it and potholes were back. CMC Commissioner D. Manjunathayya said Udupi DC Dr R. Vishal had issued a notice to the department and directed it to take up patchwork on the Malpe-Parkala stretch.

Meenakshi Bannanje, Councillor, said there was a demand for a flyover on National Highway 66 at Karavali Junction instead of an underpass. Janardhan Bhandarkar, Councillor, said an underpass would divide Karavali Junction area into two parts.

Heated exchanges between the ruling Congress and Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Councillor happened , when Yashpal Suvarna of the BJP said that though Congress leader Oscar Fernandes was the Minister for Surface Transport and Highways in the erstwhile United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, he had not sanctioned a flyover.

Councillor  Bannanje said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had been in power for the last 16 months, it too had not sanctioned the flyover. Intervening, Mr. Yuvaraj said that since all people wanted a flyover, there was no point on arguing over the issue. The CMC would urge the Union government to approve construction of a flyover at Karavali Junction, he said.

Bhandarkar said the CMC should not allow a multiplex near Manipal, which had stopped shows after a landslip in July. There should be thorough study of the topography of the area by an expert committee as it concerned the safety of people, he said.

Manjunathayya said the SMV Institute of Technology was expected to give a report on the condition of the areas near the multiplex. The CMC, in its interim report, had recommended that no permission should be given to the multiplex to operate till all matters relating to the flow of storm water, soil condition and construction of box drains were solved, he said.

M.R. Pai, Councillor, said the CMC should give priority to the maintenance of Bhujanga Park as a lot of shrubs and bushes had grown there.