Mangaluru: B Ramanath Rai,  Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology and Dakshina Kannada District In-charge, on Saturday has said that he will protect the interest of private land holders while acquiring land for the proposed road widening works from Mangaluru to Karkala i.e. National Highway-169(previously NH-13).

Rai, along with Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim, said the by-pass roads should be laid in a conducive manner benefitting road users and no land holders should be troubled.

A resort owner, who was apprehensive over losing a part of the land for the project sought to know the status of the same. A representative of the school was peeved to part with the land as it was recently that for laying gas pipeline, the authorities concerned had acquired two acres. Another suggested to acquire the land belonging to place of worship, as it was more suitable for widening at the particular stretch. 

The minister also took note of the suggestions that the road should be widened up to 30 metres from Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) limits to Tenka Yadapadavu and Badaga Yadapadavu via Kaikamba, while the rest of the stretch can be widened up to 45 metres.

According to the proposal, a stretch of 47 km of road from Managaluru to Karkala Sanur will be widened. While it will be a four lane road from Mangaluru to Moodbidri with 45 metre widening, it will be a two-lane road from Moodbidri to Karkala, with 30 metre widening. It includes eight km of bypass road from Marpadi to Puthige and Addur, Mulur to Tenka Ulipadi.

Land acquisition

As per the list provided by the office of competent authority and land acquisition officer, 1,288 structures have been listed for demolition during implementation of the project.

Zilla Panchayat president Meenakshi Shanthigodu, Project Development Officer Prashanth, Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) Commissioner Mohammed Nazeer were also present.