Mani-Sampaje highway to be ready by Jan.-end in Mangaluru.

Upgrading the State highway between Mani and Sampaje will be over by the end of January 2015, according to a senior official of the State government.

S.D. Ashok, Executive Engineer, Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd., Mysuru, told the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting here on Thursday that 11 km of the 70-km stretch was pending to be upgraded. With this, the five-year-old project between Mani and Mysuru would be completed.

He said if the Shiradi Ghat route on Mangalore-Bangalore national highway was closed for upgrading from the next month, diverting the traffic on Mani-Mysuru road might damage the newly laid stretch between Mani and Sampaje. The stretch had been laid for 15,000 passenger car units (PCUs).

When the traffic would be diverted, about 27,000 PCUs were expected to ply on the stretch. If the stretch was to bear the additional traffic load another top tar layer would have to be laid. It would require about Rs. 35 crore to Rs. 40 crore for this additional work on the 70-km stretch.

Mr. Ashok said the base of the highway was strong enough to take care of the extra load. But the validity of the top tar layer for 15,000 PCUs was for five years.

He said the highway between Sampaje and Mysuru might be able to bear the extra load as it had three top tar layers while the stretch between Sampaje and Mani had two top tar layers.

Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, who presided over the meeting, asked Mr. Ashok to prepare a proposal for additional funds.

Mr. Ashok said the 1.2 km-long exit road of Mangalore International Airport would be ready by the end of March next year. Work had been delayed as the design of this concrete road had to be changed due to 'seepage during earth excavation'.

He said 70 per cent of the earth excavation had been completed. Another official of the district administration told The Hindu that the administration was yet to finish the handing over process of a portion of land for making this road.


THE HINDU