Widening of Padil-Pumpwell road stretch likely to be completed by March: Mangaluru Mayor

Mayor Kannur inspects road-widening project b/w Padil-Pumpwell, likely to be completed by Mar 2024. Project to widen 2.8-km stretch, install streetlights, retaining walls. Delay due to laying of gas, water supply pipelines. MP Kateel asked Mayor to review progress, resolve issues. Mayor expressed displeasure over GAIL, MCC staff. Autorickshaw drivers asked for drain, street lights, better bus stop. Councillors sought humps, repair of storm-water drain, public toilets.

The road-widening project between Padil and Pumpwell taken up by Mangaluru Smart City Ltd. (MSCL) is likely to be completed by March 2024, according to Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur.

After inspecting the progress of the road project on Thursday, Mr. Kannur told presspersons that the delay in laying the natural gas pipelines by GAIL and drinking water supply pipelines under ‘Jalasiri ‘ scheme of the government had come in the way of completing the road project. The laying of gas and water supply pipelines is likely to be completed by this month end.

Widening and upgrading the 2.8-km-long Padil-Pumpwell stretch at a cost of ₹24 crore is among the 11 road projects taken up by the MSCL. The stretch linked the national highway 75 (Mangaluru-Bengaluru) with the national highway 66 (Kasaragod-Mangaluru-Udupi).

Apart from widening the road into four lanes, the busy road stretch through which vehicles from Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Madikeri enter the city, the MSCL will also install streetlights on the stretch. Mr. Kannur said an additional grant of ₹6 crore has been sought for constructing, among others, retaining walls, on the stretch.

Recently, Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel visited the stretch and expressed displeasure over the tardy progress of the road project. He had asked the Mayor to regularly review the road project, resolve issues, and ensure speedy completion.

Earlier, Mr. Kannur inspected the project by walking along the 2.8-km stretch. Deputy Mayor Sunita, Leader of the Opposition in Mangaluru City Corporation council T. Praveen Chandra Alva, Kankanady Valencia councillor Sandeep, Alape South councillor Shobha Poojary and Alape North councillor Roopashri Poojary accompanied the Mayor. MCC Commissioner C.L. Anand, MSCL general manager K.S. Arun Prabha and officials from MCC, MSCL, KUIDFC, and GAIL were also present.