MADIKERI: The inter-state highway beween Kannur-Virajpet-Makutta passing through a 16 km stretch of Kodagu will be completed in a fortnight.
The much awaited highway will connect Karnataka and Kerala. The 16 km stretch was in a shambles since five years. In 2009, former MLC and advocate AK Subbaiah representing a few merchants of Virajpet had knocked the doors of Karnataka High Court. The HC had directed the state government to complete the work by December 31, 2009.
The government had sanctioned Rs 25 crore and released Rs 7 crore in the first instalment. However, the Public Works Department, which took up the work, had failed to complete the work by December and sought extension till February. The HC gave final extension to May 31, 2010.
According to in-charge engineer Rangaswamy, the road will be ready by May 25 and from June 1, it will be opened for public use.
For the speedy completion of the work, the district administration has banned traffic movement on this road. He asserted that the delay was due to technical snags, shortage of labourers and untimely rainfall.
“The department has completed a 14 km stretch and the remaining 2 km will be taken up after the rainy season,” Rangaswamy said. The work has been supervised by AK Subbaiah and others.
To avoid water springs during rainy season, the department laid the road at a height of around five feet in a few places. These days commuters are using the Kutta-Manandawadi road to reach Sabarimala.
The responsibility of the Forest Department will be more, as it should maintain the shade lopping on both sides of the road since it passes through the Bramhagiri Wildlife Sanctuary.