Construction of the overpass at Nanthoor junction, which was progressing smoothly, has now come to a halt due to a high court (HC) stay order. This order prevents the removal of the Miyawaki forest, causing a delay in the project’s development.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had planned to begin work in October and had started clearing trees and leveling the hillside. However, on October 9, the HC intervened, instructing NHAI not to remove the Miyawaki forest until further notice.
The Miyawaki forest was established by the Vana Charitable Trust with support from Singin International and Biocon Foundation. The organizations filed a writ petition in the HC to oppose the forest’s removal.
Although the flyover project was initially proposed in 2001, it was shelved due to issues with relocating houses of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and an underground cable network. In 2021, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) granted approval for the Miyawaki forest, which was inaugurated on June 5, 2022, on Environment Day, containing over 1,000 plants.
While the original plan called for the forest’s removal, the responsibility was shifted to the local corporator. Some trees were cut, and preparations for the project, including leveling the ground, were underway. However, multiple permissions and relocations are still pending, such as shifting pipelines, electricity poles, and demolishing a commercial complex.
NHAI officials stated that construction will only resume once these tasks are completed and the HC stay is lifted. The project is expected to be completed within 24 months after the delay is resolved.
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