BAD STRETCH: A view of the intersection of National Highway 17 and National Highway 13 at Nanthoor on Wednesday.

MANGALORE: Motorists find it difficult to drive on the road between Surathkal and B.C. Road. The 35-km stretch was handed over to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) by the National Highways, Mangalore division, through a Government Order in 2004 for upkeep and being converted into four lanes under a 30-month project. The project began in September 2005.

However, with the monsoon setting in, the contractor, IRCON, has been not able to handle work properly. IRCON, it is said, was not briefed about the problems that crop up during the monsoon in the region. This was conveyed to the district in-charge Minister B. Nagaraj Shetty at a meeting in Mangalore recently. It was also revealed at the meeting that wrong grade bitumen was being used to repair the road.

The bitumen mix was of 80/100 grade. This is used only in the dry season. In the wet season, bitumax emulsion is used for rapid setting of the top layer. This was brought to the notice of the Minister. The National Highways Authority of India has not taken up shoulder trimming and laying of water drains.

In 2004, even after handing over the road to the National Highways Authority of India, the National Highways Mangalore division repaired it on the request of Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways K.H. Muniyappa.

For the next 60 days, there will be no work because of monsoon. The four-lane work has suffered heavy loss in the Adyar-Ramalkatte sector.

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