MANGALURU: A detailed project report (DPR) for a new 23.6 km tunnel, which will reduce travel time between Mangaluru and Bengaluru is ready, said Union Minister for Road and Highway Transport Nitin Gadkari.
I was speaking after practically laying the groundwork for the twin one-way bridges with six lanes across the Phalguni river at Kulur in the city, and dedicating and launching another 32 major state highway projects on Saturday.
In a videoconferencing program chaired by Dakshina kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, in the deputy commissioner’s office here, Gadkari said that the process for the implementation of the Rs 10,000 crore Shiradi tunnel road project has started and work is expected to start soon. “The land acquisition process for the Shiradi tunnel project is progressing. In the next phase, we will invite tenders for the project and work will begin shortly after the contract is awarded. This project will be an important milestone for Karnataka, as it will play a key role in the development of the state, “said Gadkari.
The minister virtually laid the groundwork for a development project worth Rs 58.8 million, to be taken over in the Sampage Stretch from the Mangaluru-Madikeri national highway. The work includes the construction of retaining walls for the road section, drainage and other security measures for the Ghat road section. It launched a project to build a 26 km long permanent retaining wall along the river, to protect the national highway at Shiradi Ghat, which will be carried out at an estimated cost of 36.5 million rupees. The foundations were virtually laid for another similar project, a 13 km long retaining wall at Charmadi Ghat, which will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 19.4 million. The proposed six-lane bridge in Kulur will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 69 crore. The minister also officially dedicated the bridge built over the Phalguni River on the national highway between Mangaluru and Moodbidri.
Nalin Kumar Kateel said that 90% of the land acquisition process has been completed for the widening of the BC Road to Addahole section of the Mangaluru-Bengaluru national highway, and the development of the Kulshekhar-Karkala section on the Mangaluru-Moodbidri route. “The tenders for the two national highway projects will be called within three months and the works will begin shortly after. Meanwhile, the four new projects launched by the minister for the region will be completed in 2-3 years, ”he added.
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