Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel (left)

MANGALURU: Dakshina Kannada district’s national highway infrastructure is set to get a multi-crore boost with Union minister Nitin Gadkari laying foundation stone for a slew of projects on Tuesday.

Gadkari will also lay the foundation stone for Rs 196.51-crore Kulai fishing harbour via video-conferencing from Delhi, DK MP Nalin Kumar Kateel , said on Monday.

Addressing reporters, Nalin said the projects for which foundation stone will be laid include Rs 1163 crore four-lane concrete road from Bikkaranakatte to Sanoor junction on NH 169. Detailed project report (DPR) for this road was done years ago and the project execution was delayed due difference between the state government and the ministry over the proposed width of the road. While the ministry wanted it to be 45metres, the state wanted it at 30metres.

The much touted city by-pass road for which a demand was placed before Gadkari during his last visit to the city is also set to materialise. This 91.20-km road starting at Mulki and ending at Thokkottu will be constructed at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore, the MP said, adding this by-pass will facilitate all commercial and heavy vehicles to move towards Bengaluru and towards Kasaragod without having to enter the city, thereby decongesting the city.

Likewise, the foundation stone for a new six-lane road, including a new three-lane bridge across the Phalguni River at Kuloor will be laid at a project cost of Rs 60 crore, the MP said.

These new road projects will ensure that the road infrastructure of the district is fully met in accordance with present needs of the district, the MP said, adding this is also in sync with the vision of NHAI which intends to build the nation and not just roads per se.

At the same time, requisite approvals have been received for national highway-related projects for which no formal foundation stone has been laid. This includes construction of a bridge across the Gurupur at a cost of Rs 39.42 crore and widening the BC Road-Punjalkatte Road at a cost of Rs 98 crore. The work of asphalting the existing NH 169 stretch between Kulshekar-Karkala will be executed at a cost of Rs 12 crore, the MP said.

Maintenance work of NH 234 between Punjalkatte and Charmadi will be taken up at a cost of Rs 10 crore. Asphalting work of NH 275 stretch between Punjalkatte and Sampaje will be undertaken at a cost of Rs 20 crore. The work of repairing the road that was hit by mini-land slide at Kethikal has been completed at a cost of Rs 22 lakh, he said, adding the B C Road to Surathkal stretch of Port Connectivity Road will be asphalted at a cost of Rs 24 crore.

