Motorists driving on the National Highways between Mangaluru-Udupi and Mangaluru-B.C. Road may expect a smooth drive soon as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has commenced the work of re-laying portions of the highway that had been mutilated.
Preliminary works such as cleaning of the road surface on the affected parts have commenced at Baikampady and Panambur, and the authority hopes to complete the work in a month. Potholes and craters had appeared between Kulur Bridge and Baikampady Bridge causing hardship to motorists.
Sources in the NHAI told The Hindu that the road re-laying with 40 mm bitumen surface and one year maintenance has been awarded to a Chittor-based contractor for a sum of Rs. 12.5 crore. A five-kilometre stretch between Baikampady and Mangaluru and 6.2 km stretch between Mangaluru and B.C. Road would completely be relaid while minor damages would be repaired.
Though the repair works should have started in September 2014, the authority could not take it up because only one bidder had submitted tenders. As per the norms of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, single bids cannot be accepted for the first time, and another bid was invited. Since the second bid too got only one offer, the authority had to finalise it and the process consumed lot of time, sources said.
The Kulur Bridge on the lane towards Mangaluru has been severely damaged, creating traffic jams. At the same time, a huge crater has appeared, covering almost half the lane near Baikampady. Heavy movement of trucks to and from the New Mangalore Port Trust was said to be the reason behind the pathetic condition of the roads at Baikampady and Panambur.
5-km stretch of NH 17 between Baikampady and Mangaluru city to be re-laid
6.5-km stretch of NH 48 between Mangaluru and B.C. Road to be re-laid
Cost: Rs. 12.5 crore, including for one year maintenance
Bitumen layer of 40 mm to be laid on damaged parts of the roads
