Haveri
Work on the expansion of National Highway-48 construction in Motebennur and Chatra villages in the district, has resumed after a gap of five years due to legal disputes. Although the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) resolved the legal hurdles, the progress is sluggish, causing inconvenience to motorists.
Alleged negligence by the contractor leading to a suspension five years ago has contributed to the delayed construction. It is said that heavy vehicles and motorists are struggling to pass these two stretches, which have become unfit for use.
The Covid-19 crisis slammed the brakes on various infrastructure projects including the expansion and improvement of national highways. The expansion of Hubli-Chitragurga highway has been completed except these two stretches in Chatra and Motebennur. The 215 km highway is being upgraded to a six-lane road.
Sources said work on major bridges and grade separators are yet to be completed, which NHAI authorities hope to finish before the deadline.Funds to the tune of Rs 3,600 crore were earmarked for the project. Roughly 114km of the entire stretch was widened to six-lanes in July 2019, but the pace has slackened especially in Motebennur and Chatra, a source said.
The project was supposed to be completed by July 23, 2020. But owing to circumstances beyond our control, work was halted. The work has resumed now, said an NHAI official.
Deputy Commissioner Raghunandan Murthy clarified that all legal hurdles have been cleared regarding the Motebennur and Chatra flyovers on the nation highway-48. I visited the spot recently and the work has resumed. It will be completed shortly, he added.
