Mangaluru: Taking cognisance of the increasing number of road mishaps and accident deaths, Ministry for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari said that the Ministry is serious about increasing the length of highway, which will bring down the number of road mishaps drastically.
He was in Mangaluru to symbolically inaugurate the Baikampady overbridge in a ceremony held at NMPT conference hall in Panambur on Monday, March 28. Gadkari symbolically inaugurated the overbridge near BC Road on NH-75 and widening and construction of Shiradi Ghat (km 237 to 250.620) and also laid foundations for widening Hassan-Marnahalli stretch of NH 75 and Addahole-BC Road section, at the same occasion.
Addressing the gathering, he said that about 5 lac accidents take place every year, resulting in 1.5 lac deaths, which is an indicator to the seriousness of the issue.
“Hence, the National Highway will be increased from 96,000 km to 2 lac km. It has already been increased to 1.55 lac km,” he said adding that the focus of the Ministry is on saving lives of the people.
He informed that the policy hurdles with regard to converting two lanes into four lanes have been cleared and even this project will see light of the day soon.
Shiradi very important to us
About Shiradi Ghat road work, he said that it was an important project for the government. “We have started work on a small stretch of 23 kms and the minister has promised of submitting the report by June,” he added.
Regarding works under his ministry in Karnataka, he said that at present Karnataka has 7,000 km of National Highways, while an additional 3,290 km of road length stands approved,” he said promising to approve another 4,000 km.
With regard to MP Nalin Kumar Kateel’s demand to grant three national highways – Karkala-Moodbidri-BC Road of 44 km at a cost of Rs 220 crore, BC Road-Kaikamba-Kateel-Mulky of 51 km at a cost of Rs 255 crore, and four-laning of Thokkottu-Mudipu-Melkar at Rs 755 crore, the Minister said that his ministry has declared all three as national highways and the official letter in this regard will be handed over to the MP when he comes to Delhi.
Connectivity from Mangaluru port to Chennai port
Gadkari said that six underground tunnels and seven bridges will be constructed from Mangaluru port to Chennai port.
He said that the work would be started within six months of receiving the project report.
Union law minister Sadananda Gowda,PWD minister Dr H C Mahadevappa, MP of Dakshina Kannada, Nalin Kumar Kateel among others were present.
