Mangaluru: Around 68% of the waterfront project in Dakshina Kannada has been completed, Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV said at the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting chaired by Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta.
The meeting reviewed the progress of several major infrastructure and development projects in the district, including the waterfront project, Sultan Bathery-Tannirbhavi road, Plastic Park, rural employment works, housing for Koraga families and proposed transport infrastructure.
Waterfront project faces land issues
Darshan HV said 68% of the waterfront project had been completed. He explained that the project had faced delays as the port land required for the development had been leased for 30 years.
He said encroachments on the land need to be cleared at the earliest to facilitate the remaining work.
The waterfront project is among the key infrastructure initiatives aimed at improving the city’s riverfront and surrounding areas. Officials were directed to address pending land-related issues so that the remaining components could progress without further delay.
The district administration’s intervention is expected to help resolve obstacles connected with encroachments and enable the project to move towards completion.
Sultan Bathery-Tannirbhavi road nearing completion
Officials informed the meeting that around 80% of the work on the road connecting Sultan Bathery and Tannirbhavi had been completed.
The road is expected to be ready by December, providing improved connectivity between the two important waterfront locations.
The project is expected to benefit residents and visitors while strengthening road connectivity in the area. Completion of the remaining works within the proposed timeline will be important to ensure that the road becomes operational before the end of the year.
Plastic Park works targeted for September
Progress on the Plastic Park was also reviewed during the meeting.
Officials said works at the park are expected to be completed by the end of September. Road construction and asphalting works are currently under way, while street lighting, drainage and treatment plant works have already been completed.
However, some works at the administrative building of the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology remain pending.
These include flooring, painting and installation of windows. Additional workers will be deployed to speed up the remaining work and ensure that the project stays on schedule.
Capt Brijesh Chowta said he would inspect the Plastic Park along with Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV during the first week of October.
If all the works are completed as planned, the park is expected to be inaugurated by the end of October.
48 Plastic Park sites ready for allotment
DIC Joint Director Gokuldas Nayak said 48 developed sites at the Plastic Park were ready for allotment.
A screening committee is expected to meet in September to consider applications and decide on the allotments.
So far, 16 applications have been received for the available sites.
The allotment of developed sites is expected to support the establishment of industrial units and strengthen the investment potential of the Plastic Park. Officials will now scrutinise the applications before proceeding with the allotment process.
968 works taken up under MGNREGS
Zilla Panchayat CEO Narwade Vinayak Karbhari said 968 works had been taken up under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
Under the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), 18,000 works are planned across the district.
Of these, around 9,000 works are proposed in the horticulture sector.
The programme has a target of generating 15 lakh person-days of employment. However, progress has been affected by technical issues, officials said.
The administration is expected to work towards resolving these technical hurdles and accelerating implementation so that the employment-generation target can be achieved.
Action plan sought for Koraga families
Capt Brijesh Chowta directed officials to prepare an action plan for constructing houses for eligible Koraga families.
ITDP Officer Basavaraju said 1,135 families had been mapped under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN).
Applications from 165 beneficiaries had been processed, while 124 applications were awaiting approval.
The direction to prepare an action plan is aimed at ensuring that eligible families receive housing support under the programme and that pending applications are processed without unnecessary delay.
Bypass and airport railway station proposed
Chowta also said a BC Road-Surathkal bypass was being planned and that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) was in the final stage.
Once completed, the proposed bypass could improve connectivity and help reduce traffic pressure on existing roads along the route.
Railway officials were also asked to study the feasibility of establishing a railway station near Mangaluru International Airport.
The proposed station could improve public transport connectivity to the airport and provide an additional rail-based travel option for passengers and residents in the surrounding areas.
Waterlogging near airport discussed
Moodubidire MLA Umanath Kotian raised the issue of waterlogging in the airport area.
The issue was discussed in the context of drainage infrastructure and the need to prevent rainwater from accumulating in the area during heavy rainfall.
PWD officials informed the meeting that they had prepared a Rs 23-crore proposal to upgrade a rajakaluve, or major stormwater drain, running from the airport runway to the PWD road.
An estimate is still pending for the portion of the drainage system located within the limits of Bajpe Town Panchayat.
The proposed drainage upgrade is expected to address waterlogging concerns and improve the movement of rainwater away from the airport area.
The DISHA meeting reviewed several projects at different stages of implementation, with officials focusing on removing bottlenecks, expediting pending works and meeting announced completion timelines. The district administration will now have to coordinate with various departments to ensure that land, technical and administrative issues do not further delay the projects.