Mangaluru : Union Minister for Surface Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari announced Karkala-Moodbidri-BC Road stretch, BC Road-Kaikamba-Kateel-Mulki road and Thokkottu-Mudipu-Melkar road as new National Highways in the district.

He was speaking after laying foundation stone for laying of three major road works at an estimated cost of Rs 2,358 crore and dedicating the road overbridge (RoB) at Bykampady and Bantwal and already-completed Shiradi Ghat stretch here at Panambur on Monday.

He said the Ministry of Road Transport has given in-principle approval for these new national highways. The 44-km-long Karkala-Moodbidri-BC Road will be developed at a cost of Rs 220 crore and 51-km long BC Road-Kaikamba-Kateel-Mulki road will be developed at a cost of Rs 255 crore.

The 28-km-long four-laning of Thokkottu-Mudipu-Melkar stretch will be taken up at a cost of Rs 280 crore, he added.

The minister said there is no shortage of funds for road development. However, there is a lack of vision and commitment for the development of roads in the country. Infrastructre should be development to generate employment and thereby, eradicate poverty in the country, he added.

In a bid to upgrade road infrastructure, the norms for four-laning of National Highways has been brought down to 10,000 passenger car units (PCUs) from the existing 25,000 PCUs. The relaxed norms, rolled out by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways are part of the NH upgradation, he added.

“The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has given preference to lay concrete roads in the country. The ministry has booked 95,000 lakh tonne cement for the purpose. By May 26 (anniversary of the NDA government), the ministry wants to reach the target of work order for road works by Rs 2 lakh crore. I have promised Chief Minister of Karnataka that the ministry will invest Rs 1 lakh crore for road construction in the state during the five-year term. I am committed to the promise,” he added.

He said the ministry has given thrust on the improving port connectivity. For the first time in the history, all 12 major ports and three flagship organisations of the ministry, including Shipping Corporation of India has fetched a profit of Rs 6,000 crore.

The target is to increase the profit to Rs 10,000 crore next year. Before May 26, the work on modernination, mechanisation and computerisation of all major ports will be taken up. The work on three major ports — one at Colachel in Tamil Nadu, Sagar in West Bengal and at Dahanur in Maharashtra will be taken up this year — he added.

He said there are plans to convert 111 rivers across the country into waterways.
The country is has to harness waterways as the medium of cargo and passenger movement. The ministry will take up the work on 40 water ports, including 20 floating ports shortly, he promised.

By promoting water transport, logistics cost, which was 18 per cent in India as compared to barely 8-10 per cent in China and 10-12 per cent in European countries, will come down significantly. India’s waterways can contribute at least two per cent to the country’s GDP in the future, he added.

Gadkari laid the foundation stone for three major road works on the occasion. They are widening the NH-75 into a four lane between Hassan to Maranahally and Addahole (near Gundya) to Bantwal Cross section of NH 75.

The third package was to strengthen 21-km stretch on Shiradi Ghat and laying rigid pavement of the 12.38-km on the Shiradi Ghat stretch.

The 45.148-km long stretch from Hassan to Maranahally will be taken up at a cost of  Rs 984.50 crore. The stretch will have two major bridges, six minor bridges and one toll plaza. The 63.052-km-long stretch from Addahole to Bantwal Cross Section will be taken up at a cost of Rs 1,260 crore.

The stretch will have two major bridges, 15 minor bridges and one toll plaza. The estimated cost of all the three road works is Rs 2,358 crore.