Mangalore-Shimoga stretch of NH13 unlikely to be widened

[email protected] (Raviprasad Kamila, The Hindu)
March 21, 2011

road

Mangalore: A proposal of the Centre to widen the National Highway No. 13 between Mangalore and Shimoga into two lanes is unlikely to become a reality soon. It is because of issues related to Kudremukh National Park (KNP) and other forest area along the stretch.

Official sources told The Hindu that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), under the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, had recently asked the private agency which prepared the draft feasibility report on widening the stretch to revise it by exploring an alternative route.

The agency had submitted the report to the ministry on July 16, 2010.

The Ministry had identified the stretch for widening into two lanes under Phase 4 of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP). The highway from Mangalore passes through Kaikamba, Moodbidri, Karkala, Kerekatte, Kudremukh National Park, Sringeri, Koppa, Tiirthahalli, Mandagadde and Gajanur to reach Shimoga.

The Government had planned for widening the stretch ranging from 3 metres to 5 metres to ensure a common width of 10 metres all along, including a 1.5-m paved shoulder on either side.

The website of the NHAI had listed the 188-km stretch on NH 13 between Mangalore and Shimoga under “tentative list of projects for future bidding”. After studying the feasibility report, sources said the NHAI had asked the agency to explore the possibility of realignment of the entire or part of the highway through an alternative route. It was mainly to avoid the 26-km stretch of the highway inside the KNP as it would be difficult to get the clearance for the project from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Sources said the NHAI had asked the agency for exploring an alternative route to avoid the “hilly and forest area, national park and bird sanctuary”.

They said the agency had been asked to explore the feasibility of linking the Port City and Malnad town through NH 206 and NH 63 or any other road in the vicinity “even if the length of the highway project might increase”.

They said the agency had been asked to study the feasibility of widening the Agumbe Ghat stretch to connect Mangalore with Shimoga via Udupi, Hebri and Thirthahalli.

Sources said a major issue connected with the project was forests. “It may be any route, it will have to pass through the Western Ghats.”

They said the agency in its draft feasibility report had recommended two options of widening the stretch each at a cost of Rs. 2,513 crore and Rs. 590 crore.

The stretch had not been considered for four-lane as the average annual daily traffic density was far lower than the stipulated 15,000 passenger car units, the benchmark for four-lane work.

According to the draft feasibility report, the average annual daily traffic on the stretch was 10,811 passenger car units (PCUs), sources said.


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News Network
July 12,2020

Mangaluru, Jul 12: The Expert Committee set up by the District authorities to inquire into death due to Covid-19 in Dakshina Kannada district declared that the death was due to patients late reporting to the hospitals and severe co-morbidities.

''Many were scared to visit the hospitals for treatment. Any patient suffering from fever, cold should stop self-medication and seek the advice of doctors. From what we have observed, the mortality was among patients who reported late to hospitals. Many had ignored symptoms assuming it to be a common cold,'' Expert Committee members Dr Hansraj Alva and Dr Muralidhar Yadiyal told mediapersons on Saturday night.

Wenlock Hospital Superintendent Dr Sadashiv said of the 38 deaths reported in the District, the expert committee had analysed 35 deaths. 9 persons who died are below 50 years old, 10 are in the age group of 50 to 60 years, 11 in the age group of 60 to 70 and five in the age group of above 70 years.

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coastaldigest.com news network
June 23,2020

Mangaluru, Jun 23: The wholesale fresh fish dealers have voluntarily decided to suspend sale for 10 days from June 24 in the wake of fresh coronavirus outbreak in the region. 

Convening the collective decision of the traders in a letter, K Ashraf, working president of the association of Mangaluru fisheries harbour fish traders and commission agents, has urged the deputy commissioner to formally impose ban on fish trade in the city for next 10 days to prevent the spread of the covid-19. 

Mr Ashraf stated that decision was taken as many fish traders suffering from symptoms such as cough, cold and fever for last few days and some of the traders have got themselves admitted in hospitals for treatment. 

The letter urged the DC to prevent and ban unauthorized traders selling fish not only in Bander but also in neighbourhoods like Ullal Kotepur, Hoige Bazar, Bengre, Farangipet, near VRL, Kudroli, Kallapu and Maripalla. 
 

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News Network
May 15,2020

Bengaluru, May 15: With lockdown-3 coming to an end in a couple of days, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday expressed confidence about the Centre announcing relaxation to "many things" after May 17.

"After May 17, the government of India is going to relax so many things, let us wait for it," he said in response to a question from reporters here. "According to me they (centre) will relax everything.... maybe for things like five-star hotels and others they may not give permission for the time being, but for other things they are going to give permission. Let's wait and see."

The nationwide lockdown was initially imposed from March 25 to April 14, then extended to May 3 and again to May 17 to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Karnataka Tourism Minister C T Ravi on Wednesday had hinted at the state government permitting the opening of gyms, fitness centres and golf courses, also certain hotels for local tourism purpose after May 17, when the third phase of the COVID-19 induced lockdown comes to an end.

The Muzrai department (in charge of the administration of temples) was also planning to have a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in place, that needs to be followed at temples once they are opened for the public, officials have said. They said the opening of temples for the public is however subject to the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) guidelines.

During the recent video conferencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with Chief Ministers of various states, Yediyurappa had proposed doing away with district wise colour-coding and instead advocated strict cordoning of containment zones to control the spread of the pandemic.

He had pitched for resuming all economic activities in stand-alone establishments while continuing the restrictions on malls, cinema halls, dining facilities and establishments with centrally controlled air-conditioning. The CM had suggested that 50 to 100 meters around known clusters be declared as containment zones and commercial activities, including public transport, to be allowed in non- containment zones.

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MR
 - 
Sunday, 17 May 2020

Please don't go out until May 31st.

Remember the Politicians and their famiies will stay inside  until May 31'st to protect their families.

If you go out and fall sick your whole family will suffer. So be smart and stay home.

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