Karnataka: Four-laning work between Karavali Junction-Malpe to start by 2020 end

UDUPI: Work on converting 4-km stretch of NH 169A between Karavali Junction and Malpe here into four-lane road will start by this year-end as per a plan drawn up by National Highways division of Karnataka Public Works Department.
Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on July 20 issued preliminary notification to acquire 69,568 sq.m land in Ambalpady, Moodanidambur and Kodavoor villages of Udupi district – for the above mentioned four-laning work.
The notification covers 206 pieces of property – 4 in ambalpady, 146 in Kodavoor and 56 in Moodanidambur which MoRTH intends to acquire. Stakeholders must file their objections to the notification within 21 days from notification date. This is part of 4-laning work on Malpe-Parkala stretch of Malpe-Shivamogga NH 169A. Work on Karavali Junction and Manipal is nearing completion. Land acquisition issues have slowed work on the Parkala portion.
Nagaraj Naik, executive engineer, PWDs NH division, Sringeri said the 4-lane work between Karavali Junction and Malpe entails construction of two-lane carriageways that are 9.5 m wide each, 1.5m-wide median, 2m wide cobblestone-paved road on either sides of the carriageway and 1.5m wide shoulder drains on both sides. Approximately, MoRTH will need to acquire up to 15m land from the centre of the existing highway on both sides, he said.
The government after hearing objections will issue final notification and then acquire land by passing awards. The department has in its kitty Rs 10 crore to pay compensation to land losers. The project will however start only after all the required land for the project is acquired, Naik said, adding this is to avoid sharing or taking on the blame for delays that hurdles in land acquisition brought forth in executing the Parkala stretch of the project, he said.