Business Line 11.09.2009

MRPL to fund Mangalore road project

Our Bureau

Mangalore, Sept. 10 The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) have come forward to develop a six-lane road from Surathkal town in Mangalore to the gate of MRPL plant at Kuttettur.

Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, the Mangalore Mayor, Mr Shankar Bhat, said that a six-lane concrete road will be developed between these two points covering a distance of around 4.5 km.

The six-lane road will have 65-feet wide carriageway. Provisions will be made for the construction of toilets and bus-stops at four places on the side of the road.

Asked about the investment in the road development project, he said the work is estimated to cost Rs 30 crore. MRPL has agreed to fund this project, he said, adding that MCC and MRPL will jointly implement the project.

Apart from this project, the MCC has initiated road concreting projects on its own in other parts of the city. Work is in progress in 15 other road concreting works in the city.

Allaying rumours that trees on the road between Kankanady junction and Morgan’s Gate will be felled for road widening and concreting works, he said there is no proposal before MCC to cut any trees on that stretch.

In fact, the MCC has deposited Rs 8 lakh with the Forest Department to plant trees in the city. The Forest Department recently stated that 206 trees were felled in the city for road widening and concreting works in different parts of the city over a period of time.

Mr Bhat said that MCC will seek details from the Forest Department on the extent of trees planted in the city to make up the loss during various road widening projects.

It may be mentioned here that many of the arterial roads in Mangalore city are now being upgraded as concrete roads with the funds allocated in the Karnataka State Budget for this purpose.