Speedy completion of road widening sought.

Chancellors of NITTE University and Yenepoya University on Monday expressed concern over problems caused to students and others visiting their institutions because of the delay in completing the work of widening the narrow road stretch between Thokkottu junction and Mangalore University.

Vinay Hegde and Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi, Chancellors of the two universities, spoke about the problems in a meeting called by Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader at the Circuit House on Monday.

Mr. Khader had called representatives from the National Highway division of Public Works Department (PWD) and Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Mescom) for the meeting.

Mr. Hegde said the narrow road stretch had made it difficult for students and staff to reach the K.S. Hegde Institute of Medical Sciences and other nearby institutes on time due to congestion and traffic jams. The problem was acute between 9 a.m. and noon. 'I generally avoid using the road at this time,' he said, and added that vehicles come to a standstill if there was any breakdown of buses on this road.

Mr. Kunhi asked the Minister to take measures that helps students and staff to reach the institutes on time.

Mr. Khader said the work of widening the road to a two-lane road had been taken up at the cost of Rs. 7.5 crore under the funds available for development activities in his Assembly constituency. Apart from widening the road, seven bus bays are to be constructed. He sought assistance of the institutions in making model bus bays out of the upcoming bus bays.

Mr. Khader expressed displeasure over the lack of coordination between the PWD and Mescom in moving the existing electricity poles, which was preventing work from commencing on the stretch. He directed officers to visit the spot and mark places where the poles needed to be moved. He asked the PWD authorities to mark the area necessary for widening and building bus bays.


THE HINDU