Rain abates, but work on approach roads for Mahakalipadpu twin RuB yet to begin

Harried road users who expected the Railways and the Mangaluru Smart City Ltd. (MSCL) to complete pending works to commission the Mahakalipadpu twin railway underbridge (RuB) near Netravathi Cabin are upset that no work has started despite there being a near-dry spell for over a week.

Although the Southern Railway had completed pushing concrete boxes for the twin RuBs beneath the Shoranur-Mangaluru Junction and Shoranur-Mangaluru Central lines by April 23, the MSCL did not complete the work on the approach roads. With the early rains from May second week, the work got stalled throughout the Monsoon.

Mangaluru Smart City Ltd., (MSCL) is yet to commence work on the approach road towards Morgan’s Gate at the Mahakalipadpu twin railway underbridge connecting Morgan’s Gate and Jemmpinamogaru Cross in Mangaluru on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
ANIL KUMAR SASTRY

G.P. Mohammed, a resident of Mahakalipadpu, expressed dismay over the snail’s pace work and said that at present, no work on approach roads, as well as the service road from the existing level-crossing to the RuB, was being done. “It may take years to commission the twin RuBs if the work were executed at this pace,” he rued.

The approach road for residents of Mahakalipadpu-Jeppu, connecting the twin railway underbridge between two Railway lines near Adi Maheshwari Temple, is yet to be completed at Mahakalipadpu in Mangaluru as of Monday.
| Photo Credit:
ANIL KUMAR SASTRY

The Mahakalipadpu-Jeppu approach road, connecting the twin railway underbridge between two railway lines near Adi Maheshwari Temple, is yet to be completed at Mahakalipadpu in Mangaluru as of Monday.
| Photo Credit:
ANIL KUMAR SASTRY

Residents of Jeppu-Mahakalipadpu require the service road passing through Adi Maheshwari Bhajana Temple to reach the newly built Morgan’s Gate-Jeppu Cross four-lane road in between the two RuBs, as the Railways would close the existing LC gate after commissioning the RuBs. About 100 metres of the service road were yet to be completed, although the Railways had done micro-piling work to stabilise the excavation between the two tracks.

Drainage work

A senior MSCL officer stated that the Southern Railway needs to construct approximately three manholes on the newly laid drainage line from the twin RuB to the Netravathi to address potential blockages. The manholes were expected to be completed within a week, after which the stagnant water in the RuBs would be pumped out, and work on the approach roads would commence.

Even if the construction of manholes gets delayed, MSCL would lay temporary drainage lines after a week to clear the water and commence the work, he assured.

Divisional Railway Manager of SR’s Palakkad Division, Madhukar Roat, told The Hindu that the Railways would do the work on its part. The twin RuBs should be commissioned by the end of September, he said.

Four years

Ever since the project commenced in March 2021, road users on the busy stretch have been put to misery, as vehicles other than two-wheelers have had to take a detour via Pumpwell Circle. This has affected the vehicular movement through Pumpwell Circle and Kankanady.