Residents fear Mahakalipadpu twin RuB will not get completed by December 20 as promised

With little progress at the worksite of the twin Railway Under Bridge at Mahakalipadpu, road users in general and residents of Jeppu area in particular, are apprehensive of the Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL) commissioning the RuBs on December 20.

MSCL officials had assured the District Development and Coordination Committee (Disha) meeting, chaired by Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta in Mangaluru on November 11, that the RuB will be opened for traffic by December 20. They had said that civil works for the approach road on Jeppinamogaru-side was complete while on Morgan’s Gate-side, the work was under progress.

When The Hindu did a reality check on November 25, a fortnight after the MSCL assurance, things appeared to be as they were with no or little progress on approach roads. Contrary to MSCL’s claim that the work on the approach road on Jeppinamogaru-side was complete, a couple of men were seen working on a drainage culvert, completion of which should take at least 20 days.

Residents of Jeppu and surrounding areas are doubtful of Mangaluru Smart City Limited commissioning the twin Railway Under Bridge on December 20 as promised.
| Photo Credit:
ANIL KUMAR SASTRY

On the Morgan’s Gate side, only one carriageway was concreted while the process of concreting the other carriageway was yet to commence. There was hardly any worker at the site.

Delay affecting other work

“Every day of delay in the commissioning of the twin RuB postpones undertaking redevelopment work of Kankanady bypass Road between Karavali Circle and Pumpwell Circle, the gateway to Mangaluru,” said Ronald Fernandes, a resident of Valencia. He said the traffic police have been postponing partial closure of the Kankanady bypass road as the Mahakalipadpu twin RuB was not yet commissioned.

With the closure of the Mahakalipadpu Level Crossing Gate for vehicles other than two-wheelers, all vehicles to and from southern Mangaluru, including Kasargod, ply via Pumpwell-Karavali Circle to enter and exit the city, which has enhanced traffic volume in the locality, Mr. Fernandes noted.

Once it rains, the twin Railway Under Bridge worksite gets inundated thereby affecting completion of the work, claims Mangaluru Smart City Limited, that is executing the twin RuB work at Mahakalipadpu.
| Photo Credit:
ANIL KUMAR SASTRY

Rajesh Shetty, a resident of Jeppu, said he has not seen any work going on at the RuB site during the last one week. “I fail to understand what is ailing the Mangaluru Smart City that has failed to ensure timely completion of the crucial infrastructure project,” he said.

MSCL officials, however, maintained that the twin RuB would be commissioned by December 20, as assured.