Mangaluru, Mar 28: The much-awaited multi-crore project on four-laning of Thokkottu-Mudipu-Melkar road has moved a step closer to execution with the union government's in-principal approval for the proposal to turn it into a national highway.
Speaking at a function in the city on Monday, Union Minister for Surface Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari, assured to fulfil the demand of Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel to declare three prominent roads in the district as national highways.
Mr Kateel had urged the union minister to take necessary steps to announce (1) Karkala-Moodbidri-BC Road; (2) BC Road-Kaikamba-Kateel-Mulki road and (3) Thokkottu-Mudipu-Melkar road as new National Highways in the district.
Mr Gadkari said that he gave in-principal approval for all three projects. He said that the 44-km long stretch from Karkala to Moodbidri to BC Road will be developed at a cost of Rs 220 crore, 51-km long BC Road-Kaikamba-Kateel-Mulki road will be developed at a cost of Rs 255 crore. The 28-km long four-laning of Thokkottu-Mudipu-Melkar stretch will be taken up at a cost of Rs 280 crore.
The Thokkottu-Melkar road in fact connects the national highways 17 and 48 via Mangalore University. Mangalore University, Yenepoya University, with its medical and dental colleges, Nitte University, with its medical and dental colleges, and Fr. Muller's Homoeopathy Medical College, P.A. College of Engineering and other educational institutions are located on this road.
Clarifying that there was no shortage of funds for the development of roads, Mr Gadkari said that there was a lack of vision and commitment on part of officials.
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What about Karkal-Moodbidri-Mangalore on Mangalore -Solapur National Highway ? No money to construct ? When will you start ?
This time vote for BJP, once election over everything will go to garbage box
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