MANGALURU: The Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) will soon float tenders to develop Mahaveer (Pumpwell) Circle, a major junction in the city, and two service roads on either side of the National Highway.
After the development of a flyover at the circle on the elevated national highway, the approach roads to the city on either side of the NH were reduced, leading to traffic congestion every day. The city corporation has reserved Rs 1.99 crore each for various development works to be taken up on the two service roads and the circle.
Mayor Manjoj Kumar told TOI that the MCC has already obtained necessary clearance from the National Highway Authority (NHAI) to take up development works to widen service roads, develop footpaths, and other infrastructure.
“The Mahaveer Circle in Valencia ward of the city corporation has been developing fast with an increase in the number of vehicles passing through the junction every day. With the area witnessing fast-paced development with several high-rise buildings, commercial complexes, and malls coming up, the density of vehicles also increased considerably. Meanwhile, the city corporation also noticed pedestrians facing inconvenience due to the lack of proper footpaths on roads. Hence, there is a need for developing the circle with all necessary infrastructure and developing two service roads till Ujjodi,” the Mayor said.
The city corporation decided to take up the work by sanctioning the required amount from the Premium Floor Area Ratio (FAR) funds. Accordingly, separate action plans have been prepared, and the work will start soon after the tender process, he said.
In fact, a proposal to develop on either side of NH 66 from Mahaveer Circle to Ujjodi was taken during the tenure of the then Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur in September. The proposal was discussed at a Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting chaired by Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, and later a joint inspection was conducted.