Mangalore: After 6 years, when the project began, the 37.50 km port road project connecting Surathkal to B.C.Road(Bantwal) is likely to be completed by Dec.2011. The revised cost due to delays had shot up to Rs.340 crores from earlier estimate of Rs.197 crores sanctioned for his ambitious project.
This information was given by Jithin Prasada of Road Transport ministry, to city MP Nalinkumar Kateel in Lok Sabha, on Monday. So far, Rs.232.44 crores were spent on the road connection. The minister stated that the contractor had been asked to complete the work by 2011 end.
Shipping minister G.K.Vasan told the Mangalore MP in NewDelhi that Indian crew were safe on hijacked ships,as Indian missions looked after such concerns. The Govt. has decided to have armed guards on board the merchant vessels of India, to face African pirates on high seas.