Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta met Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on March 12, 2025.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta met Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to discuss the critical issue of Mangaluru-Bengaluru road connectivity with specific focus on the Shiradi Ghat bypass project.
Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Capt. Brijesh Chowta urged Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to address the critical issue of Bengaluru-Mangaluru road connectivity, particularly the Shiradi Ghat (in picture) bypass, in New Delhi on March 12, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
ANIL KUMAR SASTRY
During the meeting in New Delhi on March 12, the MP highlighted the urgent need for intervention to address bureaucratic delays at the State level, particularly in finalising the road alignment on the ghat stretch and securing forest clearances that are holding up the project. He asked Mr. Gadkari to urge the government of Karnataka for immediate action to resolve the roadblocks and facilitate seamless progress. He said the primary delay was due to pending forest clearance from the government of Karnataka.
Capt. Chowta briefed Mr. Gadkari on the progress made by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR), and provided updates on other key infrastructure projects along the Mangaluru-Bengaluru corridor.
A statement from the MP’s office said Mr. Gadkari assured swift clearance from the Union Ministry once the government of Karnataka goes ahead with the required approvals and processes.
Capt. Chowta said, “I once again urge the Karnataka government to expedite these approvals at the earliest and facilitate the timely execution of this critical connectivity project, which is essential for commuter convenience as well as enabling economic growth for our region as well as the State.”
Besides pursuing the matter with the Central agencies concerned, Capt. Chowta has been following up the connectivity issue with the State Government, including Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi.
The MP said, “This is not about Mangaluru alone. It is about the entire region connecting the capital city and coastal Karnataka, and Malenadu as well, as fixing a key infrastructure issue that causes inconvenience both to the people as well as the State by hampering trade, travel, tourism prospects of Karnataka.”
Support from Mohandas Pai
Responding to Capt. Chowta’s post on X, Manipal Global Education Chairman T. V. Mohandas Pai said, “Minister @niti-gadkari Pl help us getting this tunnel done. We need this badly. Our CM @CMofKarnataka will always help. This is very urgent. Pl relieve us out of the misery of that road @nisitharaman FM mam ps help @narendramodi.”
Published – March 13, 2025 01:12 pm IST