Athradi-Bajpe 4-laning soon, says CDA chief

• 24 hours power supply in rural houses through Jyotigrama Yojane

 

Udupi, 11 Jan 2013 (DHNS): The newly appointed Coastal Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Tingalay Vikramarjuna Hegde said that elaborate plans have been made to develop the three coastal districts of the State. Athradi-Bajpe four-laning is one among the ambitious projects envisioned for the 2013-14 fiscal year by the CDA, he said.

 

Speaking to media persons on his maiden visit to Udupi, after assuming charge, the Chairman said that the ‘Jyotigrama Yojane’ scheme is another project designed by the CDA to provide 24 hour power supply to houses in rural areas. The scheme is adopted from Gujarat. Karkala taluk is taken up as the pilot project under the scheme and will be implemented under the supervision of MESCOM. Separate lining and feeder will be made available for irrigation and industries under the project.

 

The Athradi-Bajpe four laning project is designed at a cost of Rs 580 crore. The present distance covers 66.55 kilometres.

 

However, the project intends to minimise the distance to 55.95 kilometres. The detailed project report is sent to the government. The Chief Minister has been appealed to approve the project and sanction funds in the forthcoming budget. The already available land for the project is 136.72 acres, however 298.53 acres more land is required. A sum of Rs 275 crore has been earmarked for the compensation package under land acquisition process, he added.

 

Stating that Special Economic Zones for fisheries will be formed, Hegde said that the scheme incorporates all facilities like making arrangements for byproducts, canning and other sort of fishing facilities. He also said that measures will be taken to exploit the available ample tourism potentials in the coastal stretch. “An investors’ meet will be called shortly in Mangalore. The CM will inaugurate the meet. Consequently, a debate will be held on the probabilities of encashing the potentials of medical tourism in this area,” he added.

 

Stating that the Augumbe stretch will be widened up to 40 feet as there is no requirement of forest department approval, he said the proposal will be sent to the government as the land is not under forest department.

 

He said that the government has given administrative approval for detailed project report worth Rs 10 crore over Saubhagya Sanjeeveeni yojane. Hi-tech fish markets are built in 11 areas of the coastal districts.

 

The markets at Padubidri and Ankola are completed whereas at Yedthare and Kinnigoli, the markets will be completed in another 15 days. All these fishing markets are taken up in association with National Fisheries Department. Hi-tech fishing markets are built at Uppunda, Katpadi, Udupi town, Shirali and Bantwal, he said.

 

A proposal of Rs 780 crore has been sent for approval for the concretisation of fisheries stretches in the Talapady (Mangalore) to Macchali (Karwar) stretch.

 

As many as Rs 15 crore has been earmarked to construct connective footbridges in rural areas, he informed.