Centre actively considering widening city-Mangalore highway

Mangalore, Jun 3 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways K H Muniyappa had said that the Union government was actively considering the state government's proposal of four-laning between Mangalore and Hassan.

Addressing a press conference here today he said had called for a feasibility report and it would considered after going through the report.

The proposal included four-laning of Shiradi Ghat, he said adding that the four-laning of Hassan and Mangalore would enable into 4-lane connectivity between Mangalore and Chennai port.

He said that ministry had also sought a feasibility report on the proposal for four-laning on NH 17 from Kundapura in Udupi district up to the state border at Goa. Consultation work would begin on the project after studying the feasibility report, he said.

Mr. Muniyappa said that the 32 km stretch of Shiradi Ghat which had been closed for upgradation since November had been completed at a cost of Rs 33.50 crore.

He said that heavy movement of iron ore laden truck on the Ghat was the main reason for the bad condition of the road. The concrete road now could withstand for the traffic pressure for at least five years. It is now the responsibility of the state government to regulate the movement of iron ore laden trucks to ensure that the roads do not suffer undue damage, he said.

He denied that the Union government was showing 'step-motherly' treatment towards Karnataka and such treatment and the allegations were baseless.

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