Bhatkal: The HESCOM on Saturday carried out the shifting work of electric poles located on the highway as the works of converting the National Highway into a four-lane is progressing. 

Mr. Manjunath, Assistant Engineer at Bhatkal HESCOM, said, plans have been made to remove the cement poles and install electric towers along the highway from Jaktibail NH66 near Hanifabad Cross to Pushpanjali Cross. Under the same project, shifting of power lines from Jaktibail till Court was carried out on Saturday.

Since morning, linemen and engineers were seen on the highwayside dissembling cables from electric poles and installing them on electric towers.

A HESCOM official said that a flyover would be constructed near Shamsuddin Circle, for which 30 meters of land has been acquired. In view of this, HESCOM has planned to install electric cable from Hanifabad Cross to Pushpanjali theatre cross in a 15-meter long electric tower so that the electric cables pass over the buildings without coming in contact with any buildings.

When asked about the underground cables, HESCOM official said that a proposal has been sent to the government for laying underground cables in Bhatkal town, but no response was received so far.  Underground cables can be laid in urban areas, he added.