Mangaluru: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has initiated a clearance drive to remove encroachments along the Mangaluru–Talapady national highway stretch.The operation targets roadside vendors, particularly those selling fish, fruits and other goods near Kallapu and surrounding localities, whose stalls have posed safety hazards and disrupted traffic flow. NHAI officials said while encroachments on a stretch near Kallapu has already been cleared, the enforcement drive will continue to ensure unhindered vehicle movement along the Mangaluru-Talapady highway stretch.Further, the NHAI also has plans to develop service roads on the stretch from Kundapur to Talapady.
NHAI officials clearing encroachment at Kallapu near Mangaluru, recently.
Speaking to TOI, NHAI site engineer Mohammed Nasir Hussein said the construction of a service road along NH-66 between Kolya and Kotekar will be taken up soon after the utility shifting work. NHAI received permission from the forest department to cut trees to facilitate the service road from Kolya to Kotekar and the work has begun. There are electric poles which need to be shifted before the construction of the service road. Meanwhile, it is difficult to ensure quality work during the rainy season, the officer explained.NHAI has been preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) to develop service roads on the national highway from Kundapur to Talapady. Service roads have been proposed at Koteshwara (0.83km), Beejadi to Thekkatte (3.5km), Saligrama (1.02km), Brahmavar (0.4km), Ambagilu (1km), Balaipade (0.33km), Balaipade to Udyavara (1.65km), Bada Yermal (2km), Hejmady (0.75km), Mulki (0.5km), Padupanambur (0.31km), Haleangady (0.55km), and Beeri (0.7km).The issue of waste accumulation and encroachments by the side of national highway stretches were discussed at several official meetings in the past.Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, chairing a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA), in April, had instructed officials to commence drivers to clear all encroachments by the side of national highway stretches. NHAI project director Abdulla Javed Azmi and DC Darshan HV initiated a joint drive to identify and clear encroachments.
