Contractor finalised for refurbishing port connectivity road

NMRCL finalizes contractor for port road improvement works, with special grant from Union Minister, aiming for pre-monsoon completion.

The New Mangalore Port Road Company Ltd., (NMRCL) has finalised the contractor for undertaking the improvement works of the port connectivity road between Surathkal and B.C. Road and will shortly issue the letter of acceptance (LoA), said MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta in Mangaluru on Thursday. The contractor has to complete the improvement works before the onset of Monsoon, the MP said.

Capt. Chowta told reporters that Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has ordered releasing a special grant of ₹26 crore for the improvement works following his discussions with the Minister.

Short term tenders were called and a local construction agency is chosen. Apart from relaying of Kochi-Panvel National Highway 66 between Nanthoor and Surathkal at 12 stretches, the work involves construction of a drain in Thumbe on Mangaluru-Bengaluru NH 75. It also includes grass cutting and paver finishing. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Capt. Chowta said, has in principle agreed to merge NMRCL with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Capt. Chowta said improvement of roads leading to New Mangalore Port is on top of his priority as this is necessary for all-round development of the region. As Indian Railways has called for tenders for a new line survey between Hassan and Mangaluru, the MP said he has asked the MORTH to work with the Railway Ministry and come out with a road-cum-rail route in the Shiradi Ghat stretch of NH 75.

The MP said MoRTH has already sanctioned a spur road from Ujire on Mangaluru-Tumakuru NH 73 to Periyashanti on NH 75. He has asked fuirther extension of this spur road from Guruvayanakere on NH 73 to Bajagoli on Mangaluru-Solapur NH 169.

As over ₹1,000 crore is required for acquiring 32.97 acres of additional land for the runway safety basic strip at Mangaluru International Airport, Capt. Chowta said he is confident of getting clearance of Union Cabinet in two months.

The MP said he spoke about merger of Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd., with Indian Railways in the Lok Sabha during the discussion on ‘Demand for grants’ in the Budget session. People want merger of KRCL and Hassan Mangalore Rail Development Company with Indian Railways.