Mangaluru : PWD Minister H C Mahadevappa has said that the PWD will look into the proposal on laying a bypass road of five-km stretch from Nethravathi bridge to Kannur, near Padil in Mangaluru.

Speaking after laying foundation for approach road to Court Complex in Mangaluru on Saturday, he said that the laying of bypass road will reduce the density of traffic coming to the city. It will help the vehicles travelling to Bengaluru from Kerala to travel without connecting the city. It will also provide connectivity to two National Highways namely NH 66 and 75. The PWD has prepared an estimate of Rs 17 crore for the proposal.

The Minister said that plans are on to develop 12-km road from Shishila-Bairapura. “When I took charge as the Minister, bill for works worth Rs 3,000 crore was pending. Keeping in mind the election, the previous government had sanctioned 3,000-km road.

In the last two years, the State government has developed 11,000-km long PWD roads in the state.” Rajya Sabha Member Oscar Fernandes said that the technology of building road over road should be utilised to build roads in Mangaluru city to reduce the traffic congestion.

Secretary to Government of India for New and Renewable Energy Upendra Tripathy has promised to promote sustainable energy like solar energy at Pilikula Nisargadhama, he added.

MLA J R Lobo said that the narrow road to court complex in the city was a cause for concern for the people. When the court complex was inaugurated in February 2014, the PWD was yet to make provision for the approach road as per the specifications of the fire and emergency department.

With an estimated cost of Rs 11 crore, the road will be developed. As the road is situated in a hilly area, special technology will be used for laying the road. The technical expertise from IISc, Bengaluru is being utilised. The hanging bridge from Sulthan Bathery to Thaneerbavi will be completed at the earliest at an estimated cost of Rs 12 crore, the MLA said.

PWD Superintendent of Engineer Kantharaj said that the 330 metre long stretch will be widened by 12 metre. The existing six meter wide road will be developed into 12 meter with the technical expertise. The technology of soil nailing and grouting will be used for the road.

Twenty mm diameter rod will be used for soil nailing. This will stabilise the soil before the construction of the road.