Mangaluru's Major Road Development Project Hits Snag with Underground Utilities
The Public Works Department (PWD) in Mangaluru has embarked on a crucial infrastructure project to develop a four-lane road connecting Pumpwell (Mahaveer junction) and Karavali junction, with an ambitious four-month deadline. However, significant obstacles in relocating underground utilities along this stretch threaten to push the project beyond its scheduled completion time.
Traffic Restrictions and Project Details
Mangaluru City police have already implemented traffic restrictions on this route, which are currently set to remain in effect until June 15. The project, sanctioned during the 2022–23 fiscal year with an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore, involves constructing a 600-meter cement concrete (CC) road. Both sides of the stretch will feature 7-meter-wide CC roads, while the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) is responsible for developing the median, drains, and utility ducts on both sides.
According to PWD officials, the underground drainage (UGD) lines and various utility connections must be completely shifted before the concrete road work can commence. Any delays in this preparatory phase could significantly extend the overall four-month timeline for the road construction itself.
Utility Shifting Challenges and Timeline Concerns
The MCC has already initiated utility-shifting operations, but one major complication remains: the primary drinking water pipeline supplying water from Thumbe dam runs beneath the project stretch and will not be relocated as part of this development. This creates additional engineering and coordination challenges.
As per the tender conditions, the total project duration is allocated 11 months, with four months specifically designated for the actual road construction. Officials indicate that concrete work on one side of the road might be completed within this period, but work on the opposite side—currently open to vehicular traffic—is expected to begin only after the first phase concludes. Consequently, traffic restrictions on this vital stretch may extend well beyond the current June 15 deadline.
Political Oversight and Project History
Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath recently conducted a comprehensive site inspection alongside officials from multiple departments including PWD, MCC, Mescom, KUIDFC, and the police department. During this inspection, the MLA highlighted the project's political context, noting that the Rs 4 crore sanction occurred during the previous BJP government's term, with a groundbreaking ceremony already conducted.
"After the Congress came to power in the state, all projects were halted, leading to significant setbacks," Kamath claimed. "This resulted in considerable public inconvenience until repeated appeals to minister Satish Jarkiholi eventually led to the project's restart."
Meanwhile, MLC Ivan D'Souza has committed to convening a meeting to expedite the work and address the ongoing challenges, particularly the utility shifting issues that currently threaten the project's timeline. The successful completion of this four-lane road development remains crucial for improving Mangaluru's transportation infrastructure, but its progress now depends heavily on resolving these complex underground utility challenges.
