Jeppu-Kutpady underbridge, no way for highway access

Jeppu-Kutpady underbridge, no way for highway access

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 21, 2016: This road underbridge at Jeppu-Kutpady is expected to be completed soon, supposed to end the hardship of motorists caused due to a railway level-crossing at Mahakalipadpu. Though this underbridge will be ready in another five-six weeks, it is not going to be of any use to motorists as there is no connecting road between the underbridge and the National Highway leading to Kerala.

This underbridge was proposed by the MCC, Mangaluru City Corporation to prevent frequent traffic jams at the Mahakalipadpu railway level-crossing on the busy road used by vehicles moving from the Central Market area towards Kerala. The corporation deposited Rs. 4.5 crore with the Southern Railways to commence work.

Railway officials on Sept 20,Tuesday told MLA J.R. Lobo, who visited the work spot, that they will take another six weeks to complete the work on the underbridge. The railway officials said that they need to lay one more layer of concrete base to prevent water-logging. They also should lay a pipeline to drain out water from the underbridge as it lies just across a water body.

MLA  Lobo said that it was proposed to lay a seven-metre wide road from the underbridge to Jeppinamogaru Dwara, via Kankarabettu. This one-kilometre road has to pass through marshy private land, railway and government land, which has been acquired for the underground drainage system.   Whether there was a proposal to acquire private land, MLA Lobo said, “The corporation does not have money to acquire land.”

Meanwhile, residents said that no action has been taken to widen the narrow 500-metre stretch between Marnamikatta and the underbridge. MCC Commissioner Mohammed Nazir, corporation Executive Engineer Linge Gowda, Southern Railway Assistant Divisional Engineer Gopichand Nayaka, councillors Shailaja and Appi were present.