MANGALORE: The district administration has decided to draw up two separate master plans for upgrading Mangala Stadium, Deputy Commissioner V. Ponnuraj has said. City-based architects Venkatesh Pai and Sanath Kumar are expected to submit the first drafts by August this year.

The decision to commission the master plans was taken at the District Stadium Committee meeting, which was attended by officials of the Department of Youth Services and Sports and coaches from the district on Tuesday.

Mr. Ponnuraj told The Hindu that the work would depend on fund availability and approvals. “But when the approvals come through we will be ready with our plans,” he said. Sources in the department added that the plans were in fact expected to speed up the process of obtaining approvals.

One of the plans will be drawn around the present structure of the stadium and will explore adding facilities such as hostels, commercial spaces and rooms.

The second plan, which Mr. Ponnuraj described as “extremely ambitious”, envisions a new structure in place of the present one.

The second plan will be modelled on the Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore, Mr. Ponnuraj said.

The committee members also raised the issue of low rent being charged from tenants of commercial establishments inside the stadium complex. Each of the 26 tenants are paying Rs. 1,200 a month as rent. The members argued that since these shops were in a prime area of the city more rent should be charged.

Sources told The Hindu that the district administration was likely to respond positively to the suggestion and hike the rent by around 20 per cent.

The much-talked-about proposal of the Sports Authority of India to start a special training centre at the Mangala Stadium was debated at the meeting.

While some disagreement on the matter existed between coaches, Mr. Ponnuraj stressed that none of the participants at the meeting had rejected the proposal outright. It may be recalled here that some private coaches had expressed reservations about the centre on the grounds that it would inconvenience athletes in the district.

However, at the meeting, all the coaches agreed that the centre had the potential to benefit local sports, but it was also stressed that local sportspersons should in no way be inconvenienced.

Mr. Ponnuraj said that these issues would be discussed with SAI officials who would be invited for the next meeting.

The proposal to construct a hostel building inside the stadium was also discussed.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/25/stories/2009062558600300.htm)

Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/25/stories/2009062558600300.htm)

What about the cricket stadium ...that is the only thing that Mangalore needs now to compete with the Metros....Passport office,police commissionerate,augmented water supply,underground drainage,infant mortality of around 9 ,roads getting sorted out, New Airport terminal ,looks like there are not many problems left unlike manyother Indian cities.... cricket stadium of International standaed....Want to see ODI's ,T20 in Mangalore in future.

BANGALORE, JUNE 25, 2009: Karnataka Government has approved Rs. 7,500 crore investment agreement signed between the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) and the Government for laying gas pipelines between Dabhol and Bangalore, and Kochi-Kanjirkkod-Bangalore-Mangalore.

GAIL (India) would invest Rs. 7,575 crore in two pipelines, which will transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) to user industries in South Indian states.

Minister for Home V.S. Acharya told the media after the Cabinet meeting that the project would be implemented in two phases.

The GAIL would execute the project in which the Urban Infrastructure Development Department is playing a facilitator role. The two pipelines would have capacity to carry16 million cubic metres of gas each. The towns would benefit from the project, which also has the capacity to generate electricity in the region of 5,000 MW - 6,000 MW. The project is expected to be completed in 2012-13, the Minister said.

In the part A of the first phase, 402 km pipeline would be laid from Dabhol to Gokak along with spur lines to Belgaum and Goa at an estimated cost of Rs. 1593.47 crore.

In part B of the first phase, 570 km pipeline would be laid from Gokak to Bangalore along with spur lines/feeder lines to Bangalore at an estimated cost fo Rs. 2,463.91 crore.

In the second phase, 417 km spur lines/feeder lines would be laid to Ratnagiri, Kolhapur, Sangali, Bijapur, Dharwad, Davangere, Harihar, and Tumkur at an estimated cost of Rs. 486.05 crore.

For the second project, 1,114 km Kochi-Kanjirkkod-Bangalore-Mangalore pipeline, an investment of Rs. 3,032 crore including foreign exchange component of Rs. 18.57 crore has been approved.

GAIL in a note stated that it had received the authorisation for laying Dabhol-Bangalore and Kochi-Kanjirkkod-Bangalore-Mangalore pipelines from Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in July, 2007.

Chairman and Managing Director, GAIL, U. D. Choubey, said that the company’s board had approved the investment for the two pipelines, which would cover a total distance of more than 2,500 km.

City gas

Mr. Choubey said GAIL’s fully-owned subsidiary, GAIL Gas, which is focussed on distributing gas to cities, was bidding to supply gas to Ghaziabad, Chandigarh, Jhansi, Allahabad and Rajahmundry. He said GAIL Gas’ bids had been made in association with its joint venture partners.

Asked about the tariff, Mr. Choubey said the company would submit tariff proposals to the regulatory board for approval.



Source: Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=131837)


Read also Your kitchen will have piped gas by 2012 (http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Your+kitchen+will+have+piped+gas+by+2012&artid=n1%7Cqj/wj3ms=&SectionID=Qz/kHVp9tEs=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=UOaHCPTTmuP3XGzZRCAUTQ==&SEO=). MCC has to plan for providing gas pipelines through concretized roads.

MANGALORE: The Government has prepared the draft blue print to develop Kadri Park here. It will be finalised shortly, Deputy Commissioner V. Ponnuraj told presspersons here on Thursday. He said that the district administration was planning to close the Kadri Park Road for traffic soon.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/27/stories/2009062758970300.htm)

Closing of Kadri Park Road is important as the vehicles speeding on this road have knocked down many joggers & pedestrians on this road. (read Kadri Park Road becoming an accident trap (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mangalore/Kadri-Park-Road-becoming-an-accident-trap/articleshow/4663974.cms)). Is there a feasibility of developing skating rink near Kadri Park?

Vehicles banned on B.C. Road Junction-Polali Cross stretch

Staff Correspondent

Only two-wheelers and light motor vehicles can use the service road

The ban will be in force for 29 days from Tuesday till July 28

RTA to seek appeal against HC order quashing bus fare-reduction announcement
MANGALORE: Vehicular traffic on the stretch between B.C. Road Junction and Polali Cross on the National Highway (NH) 48 (Mangalore-Bangalore) will be banned for 29 days from Tuesday. This is to facilitate construction of a flyover on the stretch being taken up by the National Highways Authority of India, according to Deputy Commissioner V. Ponnuraj.

Mangalore, Jun 28 (DHNS): The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) approved Rs 147.05 lakh surplus budget here on Saturday.

The budget was presented by Tax, Finance and Appeal Standing Committee President Revathi K. MCC expects a revenue of Rs 17,538 lakhs and the proposed expenditure was Rs 17,390. The revenue of the MCC includes Rs 28.50 crore from water bills, Rs 15 crore from property tax, Rs 86 lakh from trade license, Rs 2.10 crore as a fee for the development of drainages, Rs 1.96 crore from markets and Rs 70 lakh from advertisement tax.

She said as far as the administration of the MCC is concerned, 24X7 helplines have been opened wherein complaints are registered and suitable actions are taken to solve the problems. The Council has already approved the implementation of the technology used in Hubli-Darwad Corporation to maintain the accounts to bring in transparency in the administration.

Water supply

Stating that water supply pipeline linking works are in progress, she said the Mangaloreans will receive 16 MLD additional water, once the works get over. MCC will bear the cost of linking the old pipelines to the new pipelines laid by the KUDCEMP.

Road maintenance

The MCC will undertake the concretisation and favour finishing asphaltation of road works. Besides, the removal of silt in major drainages is under progress. A sum of Rs 60 lakh has been allotted under Kuteera Bhagya scheme, according to which Rs 10,000 will be provided towards repairing houses of each applicant in the general category. Under Kuteera Jyothi, Rs 20 lakh has been reserved for providing electricity connection to the houses of backward class members belonging to below poverty line category.

The MCC has earmarked Rs 2000 lakh for the developmental works during 2009-10.

Preference will be given to provide basic facilities in Ashraya colonies in MCC limits.

The MCC has received a sum of Rs 3 crore as SFC special grant. Accordingly, 65 works have been undertaken with the help of the grants. All the works have been completed.

However, the concreting of PVS Circle to Navabharath Circle will be undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 100 lakh during 2009-10.

State government has announced Rs 100 crore as special grant to MCC. Of which, Rs 17 crore has been credited in 2008-09. “We are expecting Rs 83 crore in 2009-10. The grant has been utilised for undertaking concreting of roads, shifting of electric equipment, land acquisition, computerisation, development of tanks, parks and bus stands. We are expecting Rs 500 lakh grant from the government in 2009-10,” she informed. The budget has also reserved Rs 180 lakh for the development of markets in the City. A sum of Rs 283 lakh has been set aside for paying back ADB loans and interests, in the budget. A sum of Rs 360 lakh has been earmarked for the construction of houses for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under 18 per cent grants. To avoid slum areas coming up in the City limits, MCC is also planning to construct flats for poor. Mayor Shanker Bhat presided.


Source: Daijiworld (http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=61851&n_tit=Mangalore%3A+MCC+Okays+Rs+1.47+cr+Surplus+Budget)

MANGALORE: The real challenge to the city corporation will commence after the establishment of the Underground Drainage (UGD) infrastructure, which is being put in place by the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC), under the Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environment Management Project (KUDCEMP). The UGD infrastructure is likely to be ready within the next nine months.

The KUIDFC infrastructure is designed to take the raw sewage from individual households through the feeder and trunk lines to the wet well and finally for treatment at the sewage treatment plants (STPs). The onus of getting the individual lines connected to the UGD (through the manhole) is on the general public.

Here, lies the crux of the problem, though this will not be a problem for new buildings to get connection to the UGD. The question is, will the one lakh individual households disconnect their existing septic tank connections and get connected to UGD, incurring a cost?

KUIDFC deputy director, J R Lobo, asserts that the corporation should ensure that it happens either by education or by framing a policy. Moreover, he points out that the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board Act and Karnataka Municipalities Act makes it mandatory on the part of the citizens to take the UGD connection when it is made available.

Lobo said the corporation should frame a policy and determine the one-time payment charges for the connection are and motivate people to get connected in a time-bound manner. "If its not done in a time bound manner, the roads will be perennially in bad shape due to constant digging, he pointed out.

Engineers point out that if this is not done, the infrastructure created spending crores will lay waste, as firstly the set up will not run at optimal level; secondly the corporation will be incurring additional expenditure to run the set up, as the cost of the operations will remain the same whether it is used fully or not.

They also point out that corporation should work out the running metre cost of the line from the house to the manhole. This can be published and individuals can pay accordingly.


Source: TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mangalore/Public-to-use-connection-a-challenge-to-UGD/articleshow/4713289.cms)

MANGALORE: Facilities at Mangalore Agricultural Marketing Produce Committee (APMC) yard at Bykampady near here will get a facelift at a cost of Rs 12.10 crore, according to Shivaraj S Tangadagi, agricultural marketing and sugar minister. The Union ministry for agriculture is funding this under its development of market infrastructure (DMI) scheme, and will entail various development works to be taken up in the 85-acre yard, he noted.

Addressing reporters after reviewing the functioning of Mangalore APMC here on Monday, the minister said the local APMC committee has already taken necessary steps to improve the facilities at the yard. The committee has constructed a four-lane concrete road from its main entrance to the various godowns flanking the road at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore. All roads within this yard will be concretized under the DMI scheme, he added.

Referring to revenue collections from the APMC yard, the minister said Rs 2.58 crore was collected by way of market fee in 2007-08, and this went up to Rs 3.35 crore during 2008-09. The APMC also netted Rs 3.9 crore by way of license renewal and rental fees during 2008-09, he said and added the cess collected from APMC yards in the state during 2008-09 was Rs 202 crore as against average of Rs 157 crore in previous years.

Hoping that the APMCs would meet the target of netting Rs 225 crore by way of cess set for them last fiscal at least during 2009-10, the minister said shortage of arrival of oil seeds to APMC yards during the last fiscal came in the way of realising this target in 2008-09. To a specific question on areca nut traded at the yard, he said in all 3,35,812 quintals valued at Rs 124.25 crore was traded in 2008-09 netting Rs 1.86 crore by way of cess.


Source: TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mangalore/Committee-to-be-revamped-at-Rs-12-crore/articleshow/4717321.cms)

http://www.mangalorean.com/sp_ads.php?type=advertise&newsid=131471

The Mangalore Special Economic Zone Limited (MSEZL) is facing stiff opposition from the landholders who are resisting acquisition of their lands.

MSEZ Ltd, a joint venture between the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), India’s largest oil producer, and the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) and infrastructure financing firm, Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services, which has already seen a delay of over one year, is likely to be further delayed due to non-availability of the land required for the expansion.

As a statutory requirement, any multi-product SEZ needs to have at least 2,500 acres. Presently, MSEZL has acquired 1,800 acres in the first phase for around Rs 700 crore. It has now notified another 2,000 acres in the villages of Permude, Kuthethoor, Tenka Ekkaru and Delanthabetta near Mangalore. The main argument of the landholders is that the compensation amount announced by the company is far below the market prices. Hardly 11 per cent of the land notified is agriculture land.

I S N Prasad, managing director, MSEZ Ltd said, the company has got a written consent from farmers for about 800 acres and the joint measurement survey is being conducted for that land. Another 300 acres is with the state government and “there will be no problem in acquiring this land,” he said.

“Some of the landholders are ready to sell their land, while many others are asking for a higher compensation. We have paid a compensation of Rs 8.5-9 lakh per acre in the first phase. Now, farmers are asking for Rs 14-15 lakh. We are considering the proposal to increase compensation. But, cannot double the compensation money,” he told Business Standard.

Going by the present pace of land acquisition, the conversion of MSEZL into a multi-product SEZ will be delayed further. “We would have completed the process of developing this into a multi-product SEZ much earlier, but for the delay in land acquisition. The declaration of the SEZ as a multi-product SEZ is still far away as we are yet to even apply for the official status. We can do it only when we get 2,500 acres of land,” Prasad said.

Till today, MSEZL has spent close to Rs 700 crore, about 45 per cent of the cost of the project. In the first phase land has been allotted to companies like Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited for their refinery expansion, OMPL (ONGC Mangalore Petrochemicals Ltd) and Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd (ISPRL) for development of petrochemical industries.

MRPL has taken around 250 acres at the SEZ to expand their refinery for an investment of Rs 12,000 crore, OMPL has got 450 acres to set up an aromatics complex at Rs 6,800 crore investment.


Source: Business Standard (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/landholders-delay-mangalore-sez/362622/)


Summary of land:

Total land 3800.0 acres

Acquired 1800.0 acres

ISPRL 82.5 acres
OMPL 450.0 acres
MRPL expansion 250.0 acres
Remaining 1017.5 acres

Notified 2000.0 acres

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=62074


Manipal will cover whole of Kerala,Coastal Karnataka and Southern Karnataka. The other centre will be NIMHANS,JIPMER PONDICHERRY,AND IN HYDERABAD.

Presenting the Railway Budget Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said 50 stations will be turned into world-class stations with international facilities. These stations would be developed through innovative financing and in Public Private Partnership mode. These stations would have shopping areas, PCO, STD-ISD, fax, book shops, variety stores and budget hotels. The responsibility of the construction of these multifunctional stations would be given to Rail Land Development Authority.

Source: Rediff (http://business.rediff.com/report/2009/jul/03/budget09-50-stations-to-get-world-class-facilities.htm)

Mangalore To Get Indian Railway's Railratna Budget Hotel
Last Updated: 16-06-2008 13:09:56 IST
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ICRTC (Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd.) a subsidiary of Indian Railways in its policy decision has decided to set up budget hotels in three cities of south India first will come up at the city of Mangalore. The series of hotels named ‘Railratna’ will offer budget accommodation where one executive suite can be hired for thousand rupees disclosed a railway source.

More than 100 places have already been chosen by ICRTC for the project. And out of these in 24 cities the organization has already started construction of the hotels. Tenders regarding the construction of the hotels in the places of Mangalore, Puducheri, Chennai, and Coimbatore have to be issued today.

Railratna to be constructed in 3,500 squire yards in Mangalore will offer budget accommodation to its customers. There is already asymmetrical misbalance between hotel accommodation and travelers. The ambitious project will certainly help to solve the issue of lack of hotel rooms in India. The hotel would have 60 to 70 suites. The project would cost over Rs. 10 crore.

With the extension of M’lore-B’lore train to Kannur, M’loreans are the losers
‘Railway budget disappointing’
DH News Service,Mangalore:

Mangaloreans are totally disappointed with the budget. With the extension of Mangalore-Bangalore train to Kannur, Mangalorean are losers. The train will not come to Mangalore Central railway station. It will go via Mangalore Junction.


Though Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee termed the railway budget as “pro-people,” the budget evoked mixed reactions from all sections of the people in coastal region.

“The Karnataka government had spent nearly Rs 150 crore to realise its long pending dream of Mangalore-Bangalore train. However, now all the efforts have gone in vain and the benefits have been extended to Kerala by extending the train to Kannur.

Mangaloreans are totally disappointed with the budget. With the extension of Mangalore-Bangalore train to Kannur, Mangalorean are losers. The train will not come to Mangalore Central railway station. It will go via Mangalore Junction.

Earlier, we were getting 400 seats. With the extension of the train, we will get only 60 seats for reservation. We had asked for the extension of train to Karwar. We have lost one train which we could have called ours. Our elected representatives have not done anything to stop the proposal of extending the train,” said Railway Yathri Sangha (Puttur) Technical Advisor Anil Hegde.

On the other hand, Achal Industries Proprietor Giridhar Prabhu welcomed the move to upgrade the Mangalore railway station. “Mangalore railway stations have the credit of largest movements of trains with less platforms. The upgradation will be of great use to Mangaloreans as well to the visitors. However, the extension of Bangalore-Mangalore train to Kannur is a bad news. The authorities can introduce a separate train between Kannur and Bangalore instead of extending the existing train to Kannur. We will support the extension of a separate train. There is a need to pressurise the commencement of Hubli-Ankola train for the movement of cargo.”

Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Srinivas Kamath said that the railway budget for the country as a whole is good. “The upgradation of Mangalore railway station to international standard is a good move. We had requested for the introduction of a day train between Mangalore-Bangalore. Instead of providing an additional train, the budget has extended the existing Mangalore-Bangalore train to Kannur. Mangalore is a centre which relies on Bangalore.”

MLA Yogish Bhat said the extension of Mangalore-Bangalore train to Kannur is an injustice to the people of Mangalore. “We will protest against such move. We were expecting the commencement of a day train between Mangalore-Bangalore. I am sure that CM and MPs from this part of the region will convince the Union Railway Minister not to extend the train service.” DK District Congress Committee Vice President Ivan D’Souza said that the Union budget has given priority to Karnataka by introducing several new routes as well as eight new trains. “Upgradation of Mangalore railway station is a welcome move. Booking railway tickets through SMS, and post offices will help all section of the people.” Mangalore Railway Horata Samithi Convener P V Mohan said that though the budget is good, the people of Coastal Karnataka are disappointed. “By extending the Mangalore-Bangalore train to Kannur, Mangalore has become irrelevant in railway map. We were demanding Mangalore division. However, with the extension of train to Kannur, it appears that preparations are being made to create Kannur division. We have emotional attachment towards Mangalore-Bangalore train. Now a delegation will meet the ministers on July 8 to urge not to extend the train service to Kannur.”


HONESTLY I THINK THEY SHOULD START ANOTHER TRAIN TO KANNUR VIA MANGALORE.THIS TRAIN IS ALREADY OVERCROWDED.

Presenting the Railway Budget Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said 50 stations will be turned into world-class stations with international facilities. These stations would be developed through innovative financing and in Public Private Partnership mode. These stations would have shopping areas, PCO, STD-ISD, fax, book shops, variety stores and budget hotels. The responsibility of the construction of these multifunctional stations would be given to Rail Land Development Authority.

Source: Rediff (http://business.rediff.com/report/2009/jul/03/budget09-50-stations-to-get-world-class-facilities.htm)


Will this be the MANGALORE JUNCTION OR MANGALORE CENTRAL?

http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/04/stories/2009070460010300.htm

A 67-km-long pipeline has been laid by KIOCL from Kudremukh to Panambur

Official has suggested that the water in the dam be tested before utilising it


MANGALORE: The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) council has approved the proposal of drawing water from the Lakhya dam at Kudremukh to the city.

For this, the civic body will have to use the 67-km-long pipeline laid by the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd (KIOCL) from its plant at Kudremukh to its another Panambur plant, subject to clearance by the Supreme Court. The company had laid the pipeline to transport iron ore in slurry form from Kudremukh to here.
The Mayor said that the corporation might be able to draw eight MGD (million gallons a day) water from the dam. But, sources in the KIOCL told The Hindu that the corporation would be able to pump only four MGD of water as the water level in the Lakhya stream (for which a 100-m high dam has been built) used to come down drastically during summer.


MANGALORE WOULD SOON BE GETTING 36MILLION GALLONS A DAY !(the above project not included)

Will this be the MANGALORE JUNCTION OR MANGALORE CENTRAL?

Most probably Mangalore Central.

Inland Prestine, Kulashekara
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/2008/inlandpristine.jpg (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/inlandpristine.jpg/)

Marian Valley View, Derebail
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/8817/marianvallyviewbig.jpg (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/marianvallyviewbig.jpg/)

Shakthi Shrine, Car Street
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/3976/shrineenlarged.jpg (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/shrineenlarged.jpg/)

Shakthi Enclave, Urwastores
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/3328/enclavebig.gif (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/enclavebig.gif/)

Premier Aristo, Mangaladevi
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/8438/primieraristo.jpg (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/primieraristo.jpg/)

Sources:
http://www.inlandbuilders.net/pristine_highlights.php
http://www.marianinfrastructure.com/valleyview.html
http://shakthidurgabuilders.com/shakti_shrine.html
http://shakthidurgabuilders.com/future%20project.html
http://www.premierbuilders.in/aristo.html

Mangalore, July 2 New Mangalore Port has registered a 10.81 per cent growth in cargo handling in the first quarter of the current financial year. The port handled 9.02 million tonnes of traffic during the first quarter of 2009-10 against 8.14 mt in the corresponding period of 2008-09.
Speaking to Business Line, Mr P. Tamilvanan, Chairman of New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), attributed this growth to the increase in handling of cargoes such as iron ore, maize and containers among others.

The port handled 2.1 mt of iron ore fines during the first quarter of the current fiscal against 1.64 mt in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, a growth of 28 per cent.

During the quarter, the port handled maize cargo to the tune of 1.2 lakh tonnes (37,000 tonnes). Fertiliser cargo witnessed a growth of 55 per cent during the quarter with the port handling 2.8 lakh tonnes (1.8 lakh tonnes) of cargo.

The port handled 8,164 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers during the period against 7,563 TEUs. In terms of quantity, the port handled 1.34 lakh tonnes (1.08 lakh tonnes) of container cargo.

The volume of edible oil handled at the port increased to 1.4 lakh tonnes (61,000 tonnes).

Crude oil handling increased to 3 mt (2.6 mt), and POL handling reached 1.3 mt (1.2 mt).



Source: Business Line (http://www.blonnet.com/2009/07/03/stories/2009070352300300.htm)

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=62257

Mangalore: It’s Smooth Ride to Airport Down the Road Come September
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (RS/SB)


Mangalore, Jul 7: The new integrated terminal building of the Mangalore Airport at Bajpe here is all set to be inaugurated in the first week of September. And now the two-way road via Kenjar connecting airport that reduces the distance to the airport by eight kilometres is almost ready and will be opened for traffic at the time of terminal’s inaugural.
http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/daya_050709_road3.jpg

http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/daya_050709_road4.jpg

http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/daya_050709_road5.jpg

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http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/daya_050709_road10.jpg
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http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/daya_050709_road1.jpg

The major works of the newly constructed road are almost finished with electrification works pending, which will render the roads more convenient. It is the state government’s project which has been implemented using the Asian Development Bank loan and the work contract was given to Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC). The new road, which was planned as a four-way, is now a two-way lane after innumerable controversies and alleged private excavations in hillock, where the road project was framed.

According to Syed Elyas Pasha, KUIDFC executive engineer the road will open for traffic from September after it is handed over to Airport Authority of India (AAI). The minor works related to the new road, which includes place markings on the road and power supply to the lights, are pending, added Pasha. The existing road via Dakkan Park will be used as an entry to airport, whereas the new road will be to exit from the airport, as per the sources in AAI. But nothing in this regard has been finalized as yet.

The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 8.89 crore that includes strengthening of the existing road of 1.25 kilometres which was under the supervision of public works department. These works apart, a new 875-metre long road from Kenjar village junction to new airport terminus too has been laid.

The project that was conceptualized two years ago is now finally ready. Initially, the project faced hurdles as far as acquisition of land was concerned with few landowners refusing to part with their land. After the issue was resolved, the KUIDFC took up the works of construction of the road.

Meanwhile, another interesting fact is that Mangalore City Corporation had begun road works from KPT circle to Maravoor bridge in the name of airport connectivity road. After finishing works on one-kilometre stretch, the work gained a sluggish pace and is yet to be completed though MCC has received both central and state government grants. The contractors have been blamed for the slow progress of work. Once the project is completed then the way to the airport is all smooth.

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=62257

I don't think the new terminal will open in september. Last year the same statement was given by vasudev that the terminal will be opened by may09. The interior photos were not shown by daiji. I think they may drag till dec or jan.

Nice shots of the new Airport Road.:)

http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=134057



MANGALORE, July 9, 2009: This coastal city has had its share of geographical perils in the post 1991 year. That was the year when the development bug really bit the city very hard. Huge earth moving machines started crawling all over the place trying raze every hill in the city, trying to feed the greedy real estate industry in Mangalore.

In the melee the city started losing its character, particularly the beautiful landscape - its hilly valleys, the curves and also greenery. But the most dangerous was the razing of hills. The first hill to feel the heat was the famous light house hill, a well known real estate company of Mumbai wanted to build a huge mall on K.S. Rao road cut the Eastern part of the hill. With a large chunk of earth gone from there the residents of the light house hill in different residential apartments were facing eviction and an uncertain future, but somehow they survived, but it was a great risk the city has taken to accommodate a mall. Even today we see the muddy mess that lies behind the mall one can’t help but thinking otherwise.

Similarly hills are being razed all over the district. The hills are now feeding the huge earth reclamation industry and its effects are seen every monsoons when the land slides occur. This monsoon alone there are over 32 places in the city that have experienced small and medium level landslips. Thanks to the irrational earth moving hills in places like Chilimbi, Kadri, light house hill, Hat hill, lady hill, Blueberry hills, Mercara Hills and many more hills in the outskirts of the city are facing the same eventually. Somewhere and somehow, somebody would be digging at one or the other hill for economic gain.

MANGALORE: Mayor M. Shankar Bhat said here on Thursday that Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) and Mangalore Special Economic Zone Ltd (MSEZL) will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on maintaining four new sewage treatment plants (STPs) and using of water treated at those plants.

Addressing presspersons after visiting a sewage treatment plant at Mullarakadu and the compost plant of the corporation at Pachchanady, along with the officials and councillors, he said that MSEZL had evinced interest in using the water treated at the STPs. He said that talks on preparing the draft of MoU were in the final stages.

The Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) has built two STPs for the city corporation at Mullarakadu and Pachchanady. In addition, the KUIDFC is building two more STPs at Jeppinamogaru and Surathkal. The completed STPs are yet to be commissioned and handed over to the city corporation. The Mayor said that the new STPs could be commissioned only after the work of laying the underground drainage pipes (UGD) in the city was completed. Only 50 per cent of the UGD work had been completed, he said.

When the Mayor and his team visited Mullarakadu, Y. Prasad, a processing engineer there, explained to the team members that while treating the sewage water, methane gas would be generated, which could be used for generating electricity. The Mayor said that the compost plant at Pachchanady was operating well. However, the team could see that there was no roof for the room meant for storing inert materials.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/10/stories/2009071058400300.htm)

Read also Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=134232).

Yeddyurappa told to expedite projects
Three more cities to benefit from JNNURM
New Delhi, DH News Service:,

Mangalore, Hubli-Dharwad and Belgaum can expect infrastructural improvement one year down the line.

The Union government has identified these cities for implementation of urban infrastructure projects under one of its flagship programmes Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

With the Urban Development Ministry deciding to extend the JNNURM scheme to smaller cities with a population of over 5 lakh and less than 10 lakh, three cities in Karnataka have been selected.

Though the Centre is yet to decide the amount to be released, sources in the Ministry told Deccan Herald that it would be sizeable as the scheme involves several developmental activities such as construction of several flyovers, underpasses, storm water drainages, drinking water supply and beautification of roads.

More allocation

In the recent Union budget presented by Pranab Mukherjee, the allocation for JNNURM was stepped up by 87 per cent to Rs 12,887 crore compared to the last fiscal to give fillip to urban infrastructure development.

Under phase-I of the initiative, which was kick-started in 2005, 63 mission cities were funded. The ministry has sanctioned 463 projects worth Rs 49,743.46 crore and Central assistance of Rs 8,253 crore had been released.

In the State, Bangalore and Mysore cities are beneficiaries under this scheme and both have received 15 and one project respectively costing over Rs 650 crore.

The ministry had several times expressed its unhappiness over tardy progress in executing these projects in Karnataka and insisted that it should be put on fast track. When Chief Minister Yeddyurappa recently met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking more funds to remove infrastructure bottleneck in Bangalore, the latter had raised the callous approach by State government in utilising funds under Centrally sponsored schemes and asked him to expedite the projects.

As per the latest statistics released by the Urban Development Ministry, of the total 16 projects sanctioned to Karnataka so far, six projects have utilised an average 30 per cent against the total fund sanctioned and delaying execution, the sources said.


http://www.deccanherald.com/content/13220/three-more-cities-benefit-jnnurm.html

Now, with availability additional funds either Mangala Corniche or Mulky-Kateel-BC Road-Thokkottu ring road project can be taken up quickly? Mangalore was supposed to get additional fund from PCPIR scheme. But, Mangalore name is missing in http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=49428?

^^ mangalore has shown the way without any central funds......

24 roads being concretized...without any central aid......thats humongous effort by the GOK....

never has karnataka got proper due from the center....the under representation of karnataka leaders......are to be blamed./?

now with the central aid I wonder how mangalore wud look like few years down the line....:)

Now, with availability additional funds either Mangala Corniche or Mulky-Kateel-BC Road-Thokkottu ring road project can be taken up quickly? Mangalore was supposed to get additional fund from PCPIR scheme. But, Mangalore name is missing in http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=49428?



The BJP govt in Karnataka had requested the centre to shelve the PCPIR at Mangalore as it involved acquiring 83,000 hectares of land which would have caused social disruption.I am not sure if thety had actually sent a letter to the centre but there were press reports regarding the same.

They are having a struggle acquiring land for MSEZ.

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http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=909566

External affairs minister S M Krishna has agreed for full fledged passport offices in Mangalore & Hubli. Notice about starting of office will be issued in August. Gulbarga & Belgaum will get passport service centers.

Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=671946&lang=2)

External affairs minister S M Krishna has agreed for full fledged passport offices in Mangalore & Hubli. Notice about starting of office will be issued in August. Gulbarga & Belgaum will get passport service centers.

Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=671946&lang=2)

Thanks Moorthy .
This has been mentioned in detail in the earlier post. Mangalore office will mostly be at Rambhavan complex.All this had been decided by the previous govt at the centre and TCS has been awarded the contract. Six cities have been included in the Pilot including Mangalore and Hubli in the South.

See post 1152.

^^ Ajay, I am quoting below your subsequent post #1205

This is old news as I have already mentioned this before.

Has it been opened yet? It was supposed to be functioning from April at Ramabhavan complex! TCS has got the contract. Six to eight cities have been selected for the Pilot.


ANGALORE, JUNE 11, 2009: Union government has decided to set up four Passport Seva Kendras in Karnataka -- two in Bangalore and one each in Hubli and Mangalore -- and one mini Passport Seva Kendra in Gulbarga.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna informed the State Government, which had made the request, in a letter on Wednesday.

While thanking the External Affairs Ministry, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, in a letter today, requested Krishna to upgrade these Seva Kendras into full-fledged passport offices, so that all services can be availed at one place.

I am not sure on the difference between Passport Seva Kendra & Full fledged Passport Office. By reading the text in bold I thought that Mangalore has not yet got Full fledged Passport Office.

Report in english is http://www.bellevision.com/newshead.asp?nhid=4941 & http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=62602

M'lore on JNNURM - City in for big growth

By Team Mangalorean, Mangalore

MANGALORE July 14, 2009: The City of Mangalore has been included into the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) programme. An order from the central government sent to the state government has specified several works that will be taken up under this scheme in Mangalore. Initially the area under Mangalore City Corporation will be taken up for development while other wards in the fringe area will come up for development in few months to follow.

http://mangalorean.com/images/newstemp22/20090714mcc1.jpg

Under the programme all areas except education and health will be taken up especially the infrastructure, transport, basic necessities and other developments. 80 per cent of expenditure will be borne by the central government and 20 per cent will have to be borne by the Mangalore City Corporation.

According to sources in the City Corporation the programme will cost the MCC a lot of money. If the programme size is to the tune of Rs. 400 crores the MCC will have to shell down nearly Rs. 80 crores. The city is already paying about 75 crores per annum towards the loan repayment to the Asian Development Bank. The five year interest and principal holiday amount gets over by this December that is when the Corporation will start paying up.

So far due to the dispute over the property tax collection the city corporation has not done well to augment its revenue receipts and if the city has to pay the additional money towards debt servicing it may have to increase the rates of all revenue collection.

According to the MLA of Mangalore South N. Yogish Bhat the inclusion of Mangalore into the JNNURM was a welcome development but there will be lot of financial decisions that will have to be taken by the MCC. Some of them could be hard Mr. Bhat added.

According to the district incharge minister Mr. J. Krishna Palemar, the decision had come in the right time when the government was looking up at Mangalore for further growth. This additional financial help will aid Mangalore in getting more funds that could be leveraged to create a new Managalore. He said the city was now being chocked due to the increased traffic, housing problems and drinking water problems. These problems will have to be immediately assessed and rectified. The JNNURM could be used for this expansion he added.

Our correspondent spoke to Mayor of Mangalore Mr. Shankar Bhat who is in Bangalore, He said "the City was now poised for higher growth and the JNNURM had come in the right time. We will make maximum use of it" he added.

http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=135012

^^ Ajay, I am quoting below your subsequent post #1205



I am not sure on the difference between Passport Seva Kendra & Full fledged Passport Office. By reading the text in bold I thought that Mangalore has not yet got Full fledged Passport Office.

Report in english is http://www.bellevision.com/newshead.asp?nhid=4941 & http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=62602

Moorthy

The passport Kendras are full fledged passsport offices . The govt has a big plan to introduce it in as many as 70 or 80 cities in a phased manner so that everyone in the country benefits from tis facility thus avoiding unecessary travel and money. They are currently running a pilot in seven or eight cities and TCS has been awarded the contract. epending on the pilot sudy response they will gradually spread it to other cities. They will have the power to issue emergency passport.

Here is another news on JNNRUM with some additional informations.


The MCC will get Rs 2,000 crore additional development grants, thanks to the Centre's decision to select the city for Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNRUM) project.

Mangalore could avail the project as the Centre has amended the project rules. Accordingly, the population limit of the city to be selected for the project was brought down from 10 lakh to 5 lakh. Special development grants will be given for water supply scheme, development of roads, parks, tourist centres, drainage system, bus stations, waste management schemes, city beautification works and housing facilities.

Thanking the Centre for selecting the city for this ambitious project, District Congress Committee (DCC) vice-president Ivan D'Souza said here on Tuesday that party leaders have favoured giving priority for the development of housing sector and water supply scheme in the city.

The City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) has shown interest to develop the housing sector under this project. It has prepared an action plan that aims at building annual 25,000 houses catering the needs of the people belonged to middle class and downtrodden sections of the society, he said adding that the Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) that has not been entrusted with any work at present should be the nodal agency for the project, he said.


Source: TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-City-Mangalore-City-selected-for-JNNRUM-project/articleshow/4777484.cms)

It says 2,000 crores additional grant. I have following doubts.

Is this one time grant? What is the time duration by which grant has to be utilized?
As in the earlier report 20% of the expenditure has to be borne by MCC. So, MCC has to spend 500 crores or 400 crores? Will MCC be able to do this as it has to start repaying ADB debt.
Mostly MCC & state government proposes the plan and center approves it? Also money will be spent in accordance with CDP/CTTP?

MANGALORE: Mangalore City Corporation stands to gain an additional Rs 50 crore if it utilizes the Rs 100 crore special grant provided to it by the state government by end of this year. The state government in the budget last year had announced a special grant of Rs 100 crore each to the seven city corporations in the city barring BBMP. The government promised to release this amount in two equal instalments of Rs 50 crore each.

Mayor M Shankar Bhat in Bangalore, to pursue various issues pertaining to the civic body, told TOI over phone on Tuesday that the government was willing to make this special concession to the city. Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa gave this oral assurance to the mayor about additional funding for development of the city's infrastructure to a delegation led by district in-charge minister J Krishna Palemar.

The delegation, which made out a special case for immediate release of funds to take up calamity relief works in MCC limits, too, cut a chord with Yeddyurappa. The mayor said the civic body sought Rs 5 crore from the state government and the CM agreed to sanction Rs 3.5 crore and the rest in a phased manner. "This amount will be utilized to take up repair works of various damaged infrastructure in corporation area," he said.

On the vital issue of MCC collecting property tax as per the revised rates under the self-assessment scheme, Bhat said he has apprised the minister for urban development Suresh Kumar on the need for the government to expeditiously ratify the proposal. The corporation approved the revised rates at its general meeting in June and it will have to be ratified in the meeting this month before it is sent to the government for approval.

The mayor and the commissioner will also get new cars, thanks to Bhat's efforts to pursue this long pending issue. The Director of Municipal Administration approved this long pending demand to incumbents of this post, he said. However, the director did not ratify a demand to hike the honorarium of corporators stating it would have statewide implication, he said. Corporators now get an honourarium of Rs 1,800 per month.


Source: TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-City-Mangalore-City-to-get-Rs-50-cr-extra-for-growth/articleshow/4777485.cms)

Here is another news on JNNRUM with some additional informations.



Source: TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-City-Mangalore-City-selected-for-JNNRUM-project/articleshow/4777484.cms)

It says 2,000 crores additional grant. I have following doubts.

Is this one time grant? What is the time duration by which grant has to be utilized?
As in the earlier report 20% of the expenditure has to be borne by MCC. So, MCC has to spend 500 crores or 400 crores? Will MCC be able to do this as it has to start paying ADB debt.
Mostly MCC & state government proposes the plan and center approves it? Also money will be spent in accordance with CDP/CTTP?


^^

krishnamoorthy....the spending is not a one time game......its a very gradual process......the civic authorities have total freedom to choose the kind of projects they wud like the grants to be utilized on.......once the development work is decided they then need to prepare a detailed project report...which must be submitted to the union ministry....it is upto them to decide the feasibility of the project.....if approved then they wud release the grants in stages...and yes MCC must contribute 20 % which can be obtained from various sources.....In mysore they collected some amount from the public..and the rest is borne by the state govt and MCC......:)

2000 crores is a huge amount under JNNURM; I guess Mangalore may get around 800 crores....

Nice concrete roads for the new airport in Mangalore. If AAI is planning this as a one way that should be fine for traffic from the airport. Being the mirror location (west coast) of Chennai (on the east coast), Mangalore is highly important as a key city of India. Mangalore has been languishing for proper infrastructure for a very long time. The IR Railway station is very ancient. The city requires funds for infrastructure projects, the Airport makeover is the first step. A major number of Mangaloreans have connections to Mumbai. Returnees from Mumbai have invested in Mangalore's real estate. I don't see any impediments for further growth in the area. Better infrastructure is the key and with commerce, education, IT, health, steel, petro-hub the city of Mangalore can vault to the big times.

2000 crores is a huge amount under JNNURM; I guess Mangalore may get around 800 crores....

Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=135156) report says clearly


The Mangalore City will get a sum of Rs. 2000 crores for the overall development of the city under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. This sum is the largest ever given to one city by any government apart from Bangalore at Rs. 5000 crores and Mysore at Rs. 2000 crores.


Mangalore is entitled to get a special grant of Rs. 300 crore from state government over next four years. It has used about Rs. 25 crore already for road widening & concretization. An additional Rs.50 crore if it uses this year special grant of Rs.100 crores in time. So, at 20% contribution this will amount to around Rs. 1600 crores. So, for full utilization of Rs. 2000 crores it has to either get an additional Rs. 100 crores special grant from state government or through ADB loan or through property tax as per self assessment scheme.

It will be interesting to see whether MCC can utilize full grant when other cities are not doing so well in utilizing this grant as per news reports below.


Four years after the launch of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, or JNNURM, to upgrade the infrastructure in cities, just above a third of the central funds allocated under the scheme have been used.

With the scheme slated to end in another three years, only 32 out of 463 projects sanctioned under the Urban Infrastructure and Governance (UIG) head have been completed.

Source: Business Standard (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/few-takers-for-jnnurm/363380/)

Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=135156) report says clearly



Mangalore is entitled to get a special grant of Rs. 300 crore from state government over next four years. It has used about Rs. 25 crore already for road widening & concretization. An additional Rs.50 crore if it uses this year special grant of Rs.100 crores in time. So, at 20% contribution this will amount to around Rs. 1600 crores. So, for full utilization of Rs. 2000 crores it has to either get an additional Rs. 100 crores special grant from state government or through ADB loan or through property tax as per self assessment scheme.

It will be interesting to see whether MCC can utilize full grant when other cities are not doing so well in utilizing this grant as per news reports below.


Source: Business Standard (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/few-takers-for-jnnurm/363380/)



2000 crores is a big amount and if Mangalore is getting it as per press reports I am too pleased. As mentioned by Moorthy Mangalore has already borrowed from ADB for its extended underground drainage and augmentation of water pipelines. Mangalore's area is now beyond the 150 sq km mark with the inclusion of Pilikula park area and with inclusion of Mulki and Ullal it will be the second largest corporation in Karnataka and will require additional funds and considering that it is the second fastest growing city in Karnataka the amount of 2000 crores is justified provided it is utilised in a sensible way.

Port connectivity project faces threat of closure
Raviprasad Kamila
Delay in handing over the land to NHAI is a major constraint’

— PHOTO: SUDIPTO MONDAL

INCOMPLETE: Although the four-laning of one side of the road connecting KPT Junction with Kuntikana has been completed, the other side is unfinished owing to land-acquisition problems.

MANGALORE: The much-delayed and ongoing four-lane highway project between Surathkal and B.C. Road — also called the Mangalore port connectivity project — is facing the threat of closure midway, thanks to the delay on the part of the State Government in handing over the entire notified land for the project and lack of political will among the elected representatives of the district in addressing the problems related to shifting of utility lines there.

Upgrading the 37.5-km stretch between Surathkal and B.C. Road via Nanthoor Circle and Maroli began four years ago, in June, 2005, and it should have been completed by 2007-end. It covers three national highways (NH), including NH 17, NH 13 and NH 48. The original deadline, which had been extended by one year, has been extended yet again till this year-end by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is mainly responsible for implementing the project. The contract given to the Indian Railway Construction (IRCON) Company International Ltd has been extended till this year-end because some issues have remained unsolved.

According to P.N. Gawasane, Project Director, NHAI, Mangalore, the IRCON has completed four-laning of 21-km-long highways at various locations.

He said that the State Government was yet to handover the entire land notified for the project to the NHAI. Unless the entire land was made available, there was no point in extending the deadline again, he said.

He cited two examples to suggest that the project might be shelved. The failure of local authorities to resolve the issues related to land acquisition and shifting of utility lines had forced the NHAI to fore-close the Tuticorn port connectivity and Kochi port connectivity projects about two years ago. The projects still remained incomplete, he said. Mr. Gawasane said that if Dakshina Kannada district administration did not understand the gravity of the situation, Mangalore port connectivity project might face the same fate. The NHAI was likely to fore-close the project by this year-end after completing the works in the “encumbrance-free land”, he said.

According to a release from the Press Information Bureau, Union Minister for Transport and Highways Kamal Nath told the media in Mumbai on July 10 that “he will abolish the projects rather than allow a situation of limbo to continue on the land acquisition front...”

Mr. Gawasane said that the State Revenue Department had disbursed compensation worth Rs. 10.06 crore of the Rs. 17.88 crore to land-losers in 15 villages. Of the Rs. 41.4-lakh ex-gratia amount to be paid to land-losers, only Rs. 21.32 lakh had been disbursed so far, he said.

Mr. Gawasane said that to complete the four-lane project, the Mangalore City Corporation had to shift 8.5-km-long water supply pipelines at different locations on NH 48 to other places. On the NH 17, the civic body was yet to shift the 925-m-long main water supply line at Kuloor and hence the NHAI was unable to take up the flyover work. The NHAI had so far deposited Rs. 9 crore with the city corporation for shifting pipelines since February 22, 2005, he said. The project director said that different individuals had filed 13 writ petitions before Karnataka High Court regarding land acquisition for the project. Of them, the High Court had disposed off 11 petitions. Of the remaining two, one was a public interest litigation (PIL), and the other was related to acquisition of the land where a commercial complex was existing at Surathkal. Hence, the NHAI could not complete the flyover at Surathkal. The NHAI could not take up the Nanthoor flyover either owing to a pending court case. It was, however, disposed off recently, he said. He said that shifting of religious shrines at Brahmarakutlu near B.C. Road on NH 48 and at Kulur on NH 17 came in the way of upgrading the highway, and the shifting of underground electricity cables between Nathoor and Kulashekara had hit the Maroli flyover work, he said.

2000 crores is a big amount and if Mangalore is getting it as per press reports I am too pleased. As mentioned by Moorthy Mangalore has already borrowed from ADB for its extended underground drainage and augmentation of water pipelines. Mangalore's area is now beyond the 150 sq km mark with the inclusion of Pilikula park area and with inclusion of Mulki and Ullal it will be the second largest corporation in Karnataka and will require additional funds and considering that it is the second fastest growing city in Karnataka the amount of 2000 crores is justified provided it is utilised in a sensible way.

^^ if mangalore has already got funds under ADB....then the jnnurm funds can be effectively used for ITS...and beautification of roads and pavements.....which are very much needed for this city.....now i am apprehensive of the 24*7 water supply project under JNNURM which i am sure will be taken up.......which will lead to digging of the new laid concrete roads for the underground piplelines.?/.....:bash:

According to the mangalorean mysore has got 2000 crore under JNNURM....its a false report.....

Mysore has failed to utilize even 800 crore (released by the center) properly......:bash: thanx to the useless brainless authorities......:ohno:

hope I was appointed as the special officer of Mysore JNNURM.......:)

^^ if mangalore has already got funds under ADB....then the jnnurm funds can be effectively used for ITS...and beautification of roads and pavements.....which are very much needed for this city.....now i am apprehensive of the 24*7 water supply project under JNNURM which i am sure will be taken up.......which will lead to digging of the new laid concrete roads for the underground piplelines.?/.....:bash:

I think that they have made arrangement for laying electrical cables, telecom ducts, water pipeline, UGD pipes, storm water and even for laying gas pipelines (to kitchen). Every 50 meters or so they might have left gaps for laying extra utility lines in future without cutting road.

^^ if mangalore has already got funds under ADB....then the jnnurm funds can be effectively used for ITS...and beautification of roads and pavements.....which are very much needed for this city.....now i am apprehensive of the 24*7 water supply project under JNNURM which i am sure will be taken up.......which will lead to digging of the new laid concrete roads for the underground piplelines.?/.....:bash:

The water supply augmentation work is over. THeUGD works will be over early next year but work on the second vented dam has not started yet? I am not too sure.THeJNNURM funds could be utilised for the new extended part of the city,Sky bus project etc.

nice to hear that UGD works are almost done.........so mangalore can utilize the funds for beautification of roads and parks...:)..metro if feasible......:).....
i just cant believe how fast this city has developed leaving behind its fierce competitors like mysore and hubli......

http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/15/22hdline.htm

The whole article in the Hindu is devoted to the sad state of affairs with regard to the Port connectivity project with different people blaming each other. Land acquisition has been a problem at a few places.


While city roads are being concretised and fourlaned this high way is still not complete. This is meant to be a toll highway . If the work is not complketed how could they justify collecting toll!

Port connectivity project in Kochi and Tuticorin have been shelved. Will Mangalore go the same way...looks like it will unless some miracle happens!

^^ good at least the media has put the whole issue in spotlight.......hope the concerned authority takes up the matter seriously and table it in the legislature....

I am sick of the opposition parties in karnataka......:bash:

[QUOTE=engineer.akash;39798020]^^ good at least the media has put the whole issue in spotlight.......hope the concerned authority takes up the matter seriously and table it in the legislature....

I am sick of the opposition parties in karnataka......:bash:[/QUOTE


I have had a email from Daijiworld editor . They might cover it in a big way.

Mangalore is really blessed with an excellent press .It has three local English online papers like Daijiworld,Mangalorean and Udayavani plus national papers like Hindu,Times,Decan Herald. Very few cities in India have this privilege.They take up the local issues in a big way.

Fearing Life Citizens Demand Karavali-Kankanady Circle Road Repairs
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje

SOURCE DAIJIWORLD

The road looks neat and tidy but the civic authorities failed to finish the pavement works.......... while throwing open the road to the public..:bash:

http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/daya_150709_carp4.jpg

http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/daya_150709_carp3.jpg

In any of the project implementation, there are three stages
1. Planning
2. Financing
3. Execution

Last 50 years of independence nothing of these three were happening in right way. Mainly due to useless netas (Politicians) and Babus (government employees) (Not all). But from last ten years there is lot of things happening in planning and financing. Thanks to media, Indian global bench mark organizations, Accountability of politicians and booming economy.

But we are still lagging behind in execution. Hence you are seeing nothing is happening even though lot of talking already happened, money had been released. The main reason behind all these is in competent Burocrates. Ultimately the execution happens from them. Politicians can only put pressure on them to act. If they are incompetent and non- accountable how any execution happens?

Recently Mr. C.M went to P.M asking for more money for decongest Bangalore. Mr. P.M asked only one thing as of now sanctioned 1,800 crore project to Bangalore only 600 crores has been utilized(work finished) that is 33%. What you will do with additional money also there is remaining 2,000 crore project planning we are expecting from you nothing has come as of now.

Same is the situation in Mangalore. There is shortage of engineers, No test for them to see how competent they are to execute the project. If you get money unless you make the burocrates competent (with training) and accountable nothing is going to improve.

But silver lining is that both central and state have understood the point and media is also highlighting this that execution in India is an issue. Need to see how much improvement happens in execution in coming days.

Udupi, Jul 16: Udupi-Chikmagalur member of parliament D V Sadanand Gowda urged the union government to take urgent steps to convert the stretch of the national highway 17 between Kundapur and Kasargod into four lane one at the earliest, to manage increasing traffic density and for regulating the number of accidents occurring on this stretch, by raising the topic in the Lok Sabha.

In his reply, minister of state in the department of road transport, R P N Singh, informed that an action plan with an outlay of Rs 922 crore to convert this stretch of 131 kms into four-lane road, is already in place. Out of this, work on the 17.3 kms stretch between Suratkal and Mangalore is in progress, which will be completed by December this year. For the remaining stretch, bids have already been collected from the interested contractors, he revealed.

For the part of the highway between Dakshina Kannada border and Kasargod, project report is under preparation. The entire project is planned to be executed before December 2013. With the cooperation of both Kerala and Karnataka, efforts would be made to complete the road development works at the earliest, Singh explained, in reply to questions raised by Sadanand Gowda.


Source: Daijiworld (http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=62696&n_tit=Udupi%3A+MP+DVS+Urges+Govt+to+Widen+Kundapur-Kasargod+NH+Urgently)

^^ If you keep aside quality and consider only the executional delays then they are happening mainly due to land acquisitional problems. Whether K S Rao Road, Maidan Road or NH-17, NH-48, NH-13 all delays are mainly due to land acquisition. The BIAL airport project in Bangalore was completed in time (ignoring minor delay of 3 months) because BIAL started work only after all lands were ready. So it would be better to allocate fund for acquiring land much before starting the bidding process. Of coure there is a need for Training Plan of engineers for proper execution. So somewhere HRD planning is failing? Also there is need for hastening judicial process of land acquistion.

Source:

^^ If you keep aside quality and consider only the executional delays then they are happening mainly due to land acquisitional problems. Whether K S Rao Road, Maidan Road or NH-17, NH-48, NH-13 all delays are mainly due to land acquisition. The BIAL airport project in Bangalore was completed in time (ignoring minor delay of 3 months) because BIAL started work only after all lands were ready. So it would be better to allocate fund for acquiring land much before starting the bidding process. Of coure there is a need for Training Plan of engineers for proper execution. So somewhere HRD planning is failing? Also there is need for hastening judicial process of land acquistion.


The Kundapur-Kasargod Highway project has been kept in abeyence due to Non-Interest shown by bidders. Here government gives 35% grant and remaining PPP consortium has to bear. They will be given 25-30 years time to collect toll. companies shown no interest due to lack of viability of project. Now NHAI is trying to reduce some under bridge and fly over to reduce the cost and initiate rebidding. Project kick of is likely to get delayed one year atleast. so project completion 25 months from kick of time ( provided land is given, which is gold now in undivided D.K). so nothing can complete befor 2013.

You are right Mr.Murthy, SEZ, investment in coal, steel and road are getting delayed because of Land Acquization. Government wants private parties to deal with this and private parties gets lot of resistance to Acquire land.

Judiciary has put forth clear guidance that railway, roads or any public use any land can be acquired. But babus doesn't look like competent enough to make use of this and generally get influenced by influencial people while making the acquization notification and matter will get stuck in court.

But apart from this there are inter departmental problem like water line, power line, telphone line and drainage line shifting. Every one points finger at each other without taking initiation and nothing moves. there are also delay due to project report not prepared properly, moeny is not paid for work completed etc.

As you rightly said if every thing is made available and then our private firm are good to complete them on time.

^^ we have even incompetent private players......the best example is the KUWS project undertaken by Nagarjuna constructions in mysore under the JNNURM....

^^ The statement on NH-17 Kundapur-Talapady stretch fourlaning is "bids have already been collected from the interested contractors" against this statement my concern was before starting bidding process they could have initiated land acquistion process and released money for the same to state government as funding is not a problem. Or atleast state government could have issued notices for land acquisition by now. Now whether the private party, who is going to get project through bidding, is going to acquire land or stategovernment has to do it?

The following pictures are published along with Daijiworld news of China-bound Iron Ore Ship in Danger Off Mangalore Coast (http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=62783). The photographer is again Dayanada Kukkaje.

http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/daya_170709_ship10.jpg

http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/daya_170709_ship11.jpg

http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/daya_170709_ship9.jpg

Arterial roads face gridlock under concretization drive

Stanley G Pinto, TNN 17 July 2009, 10:46pm IST

MANGALORE: Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) has suddenly become overtly active in the past couple of months. Every possible main road has been taken under `project concretization' in these two months, so much so that asphalted roads in the city may become an extinct after September this year.

The reason: Fear of lapse of Rs 100 crore special grants announced by the state government in the last year's budget. Result: The whole city is in a mess. The main arterial roads are facing endless traffic snarls during peak hours, not seen before.

But this unplanned haphazard execution of concrete plan has left the residents fuming, as in many stretches access to houses has been cut off. On Thursday, the corporation tried to close the arterial Kadri Road and the angry public gheraoed the officials and made them abandon the plan.

A traffic police official, who was present at Shivbagh on Thursday, said he was annoyed at the arrogance of the corporation officials in trying to close the 1.5 km Shivbagh Circle to Bunts Hostel Road, without completing any of the projects taken so far. He pointed out that the Upper Bendore Bendorewell Road was closed in February and still only one lane work was half complete. "We cannot go on closing the road for three four months without corporation not finishing the job. There's pressure on us to manage traffic, plus we have to listen from the public. If the Bendorewell Road was opened we could breathe easy, the official vented out his frustration pointing out the daily gridlock at Balmatta Junction due to Kankanady- Falnir Road being closed a couple of weeks back. The traffic police have refused to give permission to close Shivbagh-Bunts Hostel Road, directing the MCC to take up Shivbagh - Bendore Road and finish it off before asking them permission to close other roads.

Mayor Shankar Bhat admits that the city is in a mess. "There is no other go. The grant will lapse if we do not fully utilize it by September end. We are doing this so that we won't have pot-holes, at least on the main thoroughfares'', he said.

What was the corporation doing for a year after it was announced it in the budget last year? Bhat vents his anger on various government agencies like telecom, Mescom and the forest department for not cooperating with them.

He said the corporation was hamstrung to concrete one side of the Upper Bendore - Bendorewell stretch as an underground cable of Mescom was passing through and Mescom wanted the corporation to pay for the new cable. After two months dilly dallying, the corporation paid Rs 60 lakh. Now, the corporation is not allowing Mescom to dig the road to lay the cable! Executive engineer Rajashekar said there was no issue. "We have paid the money. Why will we object to them digging to lay the cable'', he questioned. Mescom said their papers seeking permission have been kept pending.

Regarding planning, Shankar Bhat said if everything in this country went according to plan, things would have been much different. "Haggling and coordinating with government departments is the biggest hurdle, he says.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-City-Mangalore-Arterial-roads-face-gridlock-under-concretization-drive/articleshow/4790611.cms

Arterial roads face gridlock under concretization drive
Regarding planning, Shankar Bhat said if everything in this country went according to plan, things would have been much different. "Haggling and coordinating with government departments is the biggest hurdle, he says.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-City-Mangalore-Arterial-roads-face-gridlock-under-concretization-drive/articleshow/4790611.cms
Better coordination plan will only lead to successfull execution. Successfull project manager is the one who knows the art of coordination. Resolving the issues is a biggest challenge in any project execution. As transparency itself is the main issue public is unable to know where exactly is the issue pending. Most probably better computerization may help in increasing the transparency. Public should be able to track each issue and all stakeholders involved in the project should compulsory enter remarks against each issue continuously in computer connected to internet so that public can know where exactly the issue is holding up and who is responsible for it. We require more e-governance. Penalizing for delays should also be thought out.

There is a proposal to develop worldclass intercity in 3000 acres of land using JNNURM grant. The primary blueprint of intercity project is ready and it will be having a double road connection from current city. Kadri park development, international swimming pool, rangamadira (theatre), Mangala Corniche, Ropeway to Taneerbhavi, Marine Acquarium, parking zones, busstops, concretization, Transportation, drainage, water supply, Metro, express highways, heritage sites, environmental protection are the other projects. This was disclosed during a meeting with district ministet Krishna Palemar & MLA Yogish Bhat. MCC is expecting Rs. 100 crores income this year through akrama-sakrama scheme.

Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=673424&lang=2)

There is a proposal to develop worldclass intercity in 3000 acres of land using JNNURM grant. The primary blueprint of intercity project is ready and it will be having a double road connection from current city. Kadri park development, international swimming pool, rangamadira (theatre), Mangala Corniche, Ropeway to Taneerbhavi, Marine Acquarium, parking zones, busstops, concretization, Transportation, drainage, water supply, Metro, express highways, heritage sites, environmental protection are the other projects. This was disclosed during a meeting with district ministet Krishna Palemar & MLA Yogish Bhat. MCC is expecting Rs. 100 crores income this year through akrama-sakrama scheme.

Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=673424&lang=2)



Hope the project takes off without any hurdles. Mangala Corniche project is expected to land up in land acquisition problems. The real estate lobby is eyeing the project.It will change the face of this vibrant city.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7196/leewellarge.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/i/leewellarge.jpg/)

http://designerhomesmangalore.com/

Main problem with our cities is that most of the water, telephone, electricity and drainage line laid long back and not known to the respective department from where they pass through( much to learn from our foundation Brits on standardiztion). Hence while planning these cost are not included in project cost. Also the respective department might not have planned in their respective yearly budget. Hence once the work starts they will find the water pipe line. main telepone line etc and no body owns them.

Recently in bangalore many project got stuck because of this. The (in)famous Magic box under pass which were suppose to get over in 3 to 7 days are getting stuck in work for months. Unless this is sorted out nothing moves. BBMP has come up with ultrasound survey to find what is there in side the soil before work starts. But still surprises are expected. Some inside person is telling that even if they find something like pipline they don't disclose because the project they are exectuing is 2 years back planned one (passing the file from one table to another centre to state and then BBMP) and they have not planned for these and pressure from government is so much to deliver that they just start the work and once they get stuck some or the other way they get money to solve the problem.

^^ Hope that the GIS software which MCC proposing to use will help in easy maintenance of utility pipelines & cables and help in correct planning in future.

One more thing I wonder whether they can have fast courts for tackling infrastructure related judicial cases. Probably they can use a small portion of JNNURM money for setting up court?

http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/sponsors_view.asp?s_id=1262

^^

Plama Icon on 23rd June 2009
http://www.plamadevelopers.com/images/Plama_icon_Work_progress_9.jpg

Plama Oceanic on 23rd June 2009
http://www.plamadevelopers.com/images/Plama_Oceanic_Working_prog_1.JPG

http://www.plamadevelopers.com/images/Plama_Oceanic_Working_prog_5.JPG

Courtesy: http://www.plamadevelopers.com

^Good update. Do you have a render?

^^ Renders have been posted earlier. Anyhow posting again below.

Plama Icon
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/200/plamaicon.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/plamaicon.jpg/)

Plama Oceanic
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/5677/plamaoceanic.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/plamaoceanic.jpg/)

MRPL net dips 50% on refining margin (http://www.mydigitalfc.com/companies/mrpl-net-dips-50-refining-margin-938)
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd, a subsidiary of Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), today reported a 50 per cent drop in net profit at Rs 420 crore for the April-June quarter on falling refinery margins.

India MRPL to commission expanded plant by Dec 2011 (http://in.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idINDEB00079520090723)
India's Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) aims to commission its expanded refinery by December 2011, its director for finance, L.K. Gupta, told reporters on Thursday. "Mechanical completion would be completed by October 2011 and we should be commissioning it by December," he said. The capacity is being expanded to 300,000 barrels per day from 193,800 bpd.

To invest Rs 1800cr in new polypropylene unit: MRPL (http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/results-boardroom/to-invest-rs-1800crnew-polypropylene-unit-mrpl/407624)
MRPL to set up polypropylene unit by 2012 (http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/631072/Business/4/20/4)
According to Uttam Kumar Basu, MD, MRPL, the company plans to invest Rs 1800 crore in the new polypropylene unit. "The proposal would be formalized once it gets approval from the ONGC board," R. S. Sharma, the chairman of both MRPL and ONGC, told reporters at a press conference after the company reported a 50% fall in first-quarter net profit. The polypropylene unit will have an annual capacity of 440,000 tonnes and a debt-equity ratio of 2:1, MRPL Managing Director Uttam Kumar Basu told reporters here.


Earlier post on MSEZ is #1260 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=39127206&postcount=1260). Both polypropylene unit and aromatic unit may be part of OMPL.

Four-lane highway plan hits roadblock
Raviprasad Kamila
Delay in land acquisition hindering NHAI from awarding contract

The total land to be acquired is 238.69 hectares

Udupi behind Dakshina Kannada in land acquisition

http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/23/stories/2009072359680300.htm

Photo: R. Eswarraj

In limbo: An overview of the National Highway 17 stretch between Talapady and Nanthoor Circle in Mangalore that will be converted into a four-lane road. —

MANGALORE: The plan to provide a smooth drive from Kundapur to Talapady seems to have hit a roadblock owing to delay in land acquisition on the part of the State Government and a policy change by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the implementing agency.

The project aims at converting the present two-lane stretch of the national highway into a four-lane high-quality road. The project will exclude the stretch between Surathkal and Nathoor junction in the city, as this road will be made a four-lane stretch under the Port Connectivity Project.

The NHAI finds that the State Government is taking its “own sweet time” to complete the land acquisition process.

Udupi district is lagging far behind in land acquisition as compared to Dakshina Kannada.

Though the NHAI has received three bids for the project, it is not in a position to award the work owing to a recent policy change. Under the new policy, the NHAI will award projects only if State governments issue final land acquisition notifications for 80 per cent of the properties to be taken over. It also expects State governments to have issued preliminary notifications for acquiring the remaining 20 per cent of the properties.

The NHAI has proposed to upgrade the two stretches of the highway under phase III of the National Highways Development Project. The total length to be upgraded is 90.08 km. Of this, the major portion is 74.78 km between the National Institute of Technology, Surathkal, and Kundapur. The other part is 15.30 km between Nanthoor Circle and Talapady.

The total land to be acquired for the project is 238.69 hectares which is spread across 67 villages. Of them, 50 villages are in Udupi district and the rest in Dakshina Kannada.

The Government has to acquire the land under Section 3 (A) and Section 3 (D) of the National Highways Act, 1956. The former refers to preliminary notifications and the latter final notifications for land acquisition, the sources said.

Udupi district


The sources said they were yet to receive the preliminary notification for land acquisition in 32 villages in Udupi district from the office of the Assistant Commissioner, Kundapur sub-division, the competent authority for the land acquisition. The acquisition has not been expedited even after the NHAI deposited Rs. 6 lakh for the purpose with that office a year ago. The NHAI has also been providing the office with support staff and other facilities since August last. In addition, the NHAI deposited Rs. 3 lakh with the Assistant Commissioner’s office on July 2. So far NHAI has received the preliminary notification for only 18 villages in Udupi district which it is now processing.

Dakshina Kannada


The sources said that of 17 villages where land had to be acquired in Dakshina Kannada, the preliminary notification detailing land acquisition in eight villages had been published in the Gazette of India. These villages were located between Surathkal and Mulky. The final notification was still to come. The NHAI was yet to receive the preliminary notification from the office of Assistant Commissioner, Mangalore, for acquiring land in nine villages between Nanthoor Circle and Talapady. It had deposited Rs. 5.2 lakh with the Assistant Commissioner’s office for expediting the land acquisition.

Such delays are believed to have forced NHAI to adopt the new policy on awarding projects. A consultant for NHAI projects said, “The onus is now on the MPs and MLAs of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts to ensure that the land acquisition process is expedited. Otherwise, the four-lane project will take many more years to take off.”

NICE LOOKING CIRCLE.....

http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/23/images/2009072359680301.jpg

I doubt whether NHAI has done a full survey of land to be acquired. Incomplete survey may be the real reason for delay in issuing of land acquisition notifications. Earlier reports had revealed that inadequate testing of soil had delayed construction of Kottarachowki flyover ramps and also the poor construction of Kuntikana flyover ramps.

One month back I was in mangalore, there was some public protest reported in news paper. The protest was related to By-pass selection at mulki. There were three proposal suggested. But one of them and the most econmical one(without flyover) was suppose to go in front of Mulki bappanadu temple taking diversion from current NH. Hence public didn't allow the servay. Also they were reporting that udupi to kundapur strech is the most difficult for Acquization since many villages (Like kota, koteshwar, chumpi etc) are there and they are develped on NH. I feel both the district D.K and Udupi have competant D.C's ponnuraj and Hemalatha (Husband and wife). So from their side there should not be any problem. Some one has to dig deep into this to find the fact. "daiziworld" might be right people.

NICE LOOKING CIRCLE.....

http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/23/images/2009072359680301.jpg


That is the Pumpwell circle. LARGEST CIRCLE IN MANGALORE where the NH17 meets the NH48 .Thanks for putting the picture.

http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/exclusive_arch.asp?ex_id=1118

^^

Hampankatte : 1950 - 2009
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-1.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-2.jpg

Light House 1939 - 2009
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-3.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-4.jpg

Bunder Port 1942 - 2009
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-5.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-6.jpg

Sultan Butteri 1930 - 2009
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-7.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-8.jpg

Railway Station Front view
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-9.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-10.jpg

Railway Station Side View
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-11.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-12.jpg

Railway Station Far End
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-13.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-14.jpg

St Paul's at Nehru Maidan 1930 - 2009
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-15.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-16.jpg

Taj Mahal Hotel
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-17.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-18.jpg

Ullal Bridge 1920 - 2009
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-19.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-20.jpg

Balmata Church (CSI) 1939 - 2009
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-21.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-22.jpg

Idga Mosque at Light House Hill
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-23.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-24.jpg

Kadri Temple
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-25.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-26.jpg

Kulur River Crossing 1930 and Kulur Bridge 2009
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-27.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-28.jpg

Balmata Mission Compound
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-29.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-30.jpg

Rosario Cathedral 1930 - 2009
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-31.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-32.jpg

by Naveen Frank - Sharjah

For more visit mangalorespots (http://mangalorespots.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=8) by ALFAGODWIN.

Thanks

Moorthy.

regards
ajay

Mangalore: SEZ will be ready by next year

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Mangalore Jul 26: MSEZ COO A G Pai stressed on the need of having SEZ in Mangalore. Around 2,000 acres have been acquired without disturbing the serenity of Mangalore.

A talk on Mangalore SEZ and employment opportunities by MSEZ COO A G Pai was organised under the auspices of Mangalore University Chemistry Alumini (MUCA) at Mangalore University campus here on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, Pai stressed on the need of having SEZ in Mangalore. Around 2,000 acres have been acquired without disturbing the serenity of Mangalore. Plans have been made to supply water to SEZ from Nethravathi and Gurpura rivers without inundating the agricultural land through vented dams built at intervals. These dams will help in preventing the intrusion of salt water. A respectable compensation was given to the displaced people, he added.

Even though 14 months were lost due to bureaucratic procedures, the SEZ will be ready by next year. SEZ will generate employment for the youth.

MUCA President Apotex Pharmachem India Ltd, Bangalore Managing Director Dr P M Akberali presided over the function. MUCA Secretary Prof B Narayana welcomed the gathering and Treasurer Dr Boja Poojari proposed a vote of thanks.

DHNS

http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=137139

MCC to get water from Lakya dam


Print article | E-mail article | Comment on this article | View comments
By Team Mangalorean

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=137296

MANGALORE, July 27, 2009: Even while Mangalore city was facing a grave threat of the Nethravati river being diverted from west to east that might plunge the city into an everlasting drinking water problem, the Mangalore City Corporation has planned to get water from the Lakya dam as an additional water source to the city.

According to the sources in the City Corporation the department of forests, environment and ecology has in-principle acceded to a request from the city corporation to permit it to use the existing iron ore slurry pipeline to bring water to the city using the gravity. There is no pumping or need of electricity. The City may get an additional 4.5 million Gallons of water per day (MGD). The government might consider it favorably if there are no legal issues in the proposal says Mr. Shankar Bhat Mayor of Mangalore.

Speaking to the Mangalorean.com Mr. Bhat told that “There was every reason for the government to accede to the request of the Mangalore City Corporation as it was the most natural way to get the water to city.





The existing water in the Lakya dam was flowing off on the course of Bhadra river and there was nothing wrong in getting the water for the use of a civic society. If the government could not for some reason give clearance the MCC will file impleading petition before the Supreme Court to make it a party in the KIOCL case, he said. SC may not object to use this natural resource for public good, Mr. Bhat added.

According to the state ecology and environment minister Mr. Krishna Palemar the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited has already intimated that it will maintain the pipeline. After the stoppage of iron ore mining in Kudremukh the pipeline was lying in a state of disuse.

Mr.Palemar said the KIOCL has also expressed its willingness to pay for the water at commercial rates, but still the water needs to be treated before it is distributed. Mr. Palemar is keen that the water from Lakya dam could be supplied to the parched areas of Surathkal wards.

This additional water will help the City Corporation in supplying the water to the industrial needs which will make the industries less dependent on the Nethravati river waters augmented at Thumbe dam and supplied to the city.

^^

Hampankatte : 1950 - 2009
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-1.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-2.jpg

Light House 1939 - 2009
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-3.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-4.jpg

Taj Mahal Hotel
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-17.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-18.jpg

Ullal Bridge 1920 - 2009
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-19.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-20.jpg

Balmata Church (CSI) 1939 - 2009
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-21.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-22.jpg

Idga Mosque at Light House Hill
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-23.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-24.jpg

Kadri Temple
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-25.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-26.jpg

Kulur River Crossing 1930 and Kulur Bridge 2009
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-27.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-28.jpg

Balmata Mission Compound
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-29.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-30.jpg

Rosario Cathedral 1930 - 2009
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-31.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/img_news1/mangalore_072309-32.jpg

by Naveen Frank - Sharjah

For more visit mangalorespots (http://mangalorespots.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=8) by ALFAGODWIN.

Krishnamoorthy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! good work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)

Mangalore, Jul 28: The city will get its own passport office in the last week of September or in the first week of October, said a press release issued by Ivan D’Souza, vice-president, district congress committee, after a delegation met the state passport officer R Raveendra recently.

The delegation led by D’Souza urged the state passport officer to quicken the work on setting up its office in the city. The office will be set up near Navabharath Circle, and work on its interior is still pending.

Meanwhile, a memorandum was also sent to union external affairs minister S M Krishna, stating that the passport office should be a full-fledged one with all facilities, added the release.

SFC has sanctioned funds for these projects
Plans afoot to concrete a few more roads in Mangalore
Wards to be given Rs. 8 lakh each to handle crises

MANGALORE: The State Finance Commission (SFC) recently sanctioned Rs. 25 crore to Mangalore City Corporation for development activities, according to Mayor M. Shankar Bhat.

A major portion of this fund would be utilised for laying footpaths, constructing stormwater drains, and improving medians on the newly laid roads.

The concreting of a few more roads would also be taken up with this fund, he said.

Mr. Bhat said that the corporation would reserve Rs. 3 crore for concreting the Surathkal-MRPL Road, Rs. 2 crore each for concreting the Kuloor-Kavoor Road and the Kuntikana-Kavoor Road, and to build a market at Surathkal. Footpaths had to be laid and stormwater drains constructed on a few recently concreted roads such as Lalbagh-Bejai Road, Hampankatta Circle-A.B. Shetty Circle Road, Hamlinton Circle-Rao and Rao Circle Road, and Old Clock Tower-Rao and Rao Circle Road, he said.

Fund utilisation

The concreting of Bejai-Kuntikana Road, Lower Bendoorwell Circle-Horticulture Junction Road, Bejai-Karangalpady Road, and A.B. Shetty Circle-Hamilton Circle Road was under way. The SFC’s fund would be utilised to lay footpaths and construct stormwater drains on these roads after concreting them. The concreting of these four roads would be over by September, he said. The Mayor said that the State Government had released Rs. 5 crore to the corporation recently for calamity relief works. This fund would be utilised to repair those tarred roads which had been damaged owing to heavy rains. Each of the 60 wards in the corporation would be provided with Rs. 8 lakh to meet the expenses arising out of certain immediate tasks in their respective areas, he said.

Mr. Bhat said that when he met the Chief Minister recently, the latter had promised to grant Rs. 50 crore more to the corporation for road related works, if the civic body had utilised the entire Rs. 100-crore special grant sanctioned to it for 2008-09 and 2009-10.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/29/stories/2009072959220300.htm)

^^ great stuff...mangalore needed this badly.......hope the funds are utilized wisely.....

Rs. 50 lakh has been spent on roads in Dalit colonies between 2007-09, states list of works
Drains in most of these areas are filled with debris, silt

http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/29/images/2009072959330301.jpg
PUDDLE-RIDDEN: This road in the Dalit colony at Arakerebail in Mangalore is in a pathetic condition.

MANGALORE: Unlike the main thoroughfares of the city, roads leading to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe colonies are seldom taken care of. Tucked away in most inaccessible parts of the city and not wider than three feet at a few places, these roads bring to mind the adage “Out of sight is out of mind”.

Four of the seven colonies visited by The Hindu on Tuesday are completely cut off from the outside world during heavy rains, according to residents in these areas. In five of these colonies there is little that separates the road from the drain. With all the stagnant water everywhere, the roads look like drains. And the drains are filled to the brim with silt and debris of the eroded roads.

Funds allocation

According to a works list, procured by The Hindu under the Right to Information Act, over Rs. 50 lakh was allocated for development of roads in these colonies between 2007 and 2009. But, it appears as though the works have either been substandard or have not been taken up. In certain cases the funds seem to have been diverted to build roads connecting some upscale localities.

The list states that in 2007-08 Rs. 9 lakh had been spent on laying a 1.5-km road connecting two houses of Dalits in Katla area of Idiya (North) ward. But, it was found that no Dalits lived in these houses. They were sold to some caste Hindu people over a decade ago.

In Derebail, represented by Mayor M. Shankar Bhat, Rs. 10 lakh was spent on repair of a road that connects to only one Dalit’s house.

The list says that Rs. 4 lakh was spent to build a road in Krishnapura. But there is no tarred road in the entire Dalit colony there. Residents of the area said that no work was ever taken up there. The area was getting cut off from the outside world during every rainy season, they said. In Arikerebail Dalit colony of Bolar ward, Rs. 4 lakh had been spent on constructing a road this year, according to the list.

However, there was not the slightest trace of tar on the road there and the local people said that the area became inaccessible during heavy rains.

The drain was overflowing on Tuesday and there were squalid puddles everywhere.

When the local councillor, Prema Muralidhar, was requested to come to the spot and show where the money was spent, her husband Muralidhar turned up instead. He entered into a heated debate with the residents of the area as they alleged that he had misappropriated the funds. He left in a huff saying: “I do not care if you write about this in your newspaper.”

In the Kuthkorigudde Dalit colony Rs. 18 lakh was sanctioned for building a concrete road in 2007-08. There has been no progress in the work so far.

The local councillor, Jesitha Boromeo, claimed that there was confusion over what material to use for building the road.

“Corporation’s private consultant Dharmaraj suggested that we should use interlock bricks. The local people were opposed to this and that is why the work has been delayed,” she said. A resident

Anil Kumar said: “Interlock bricks are used to build footpaths not roads.”

In the Shanta Alva Dalit colony in Mangaladevi Rs. 8 lakh was sanctioned for building a road in 2007-08. But it was built only a few months ago.

A resident, Shanta (69), said that the job had been shoddy. She pointed to cracks on the newly laid roads. “They dumped debris of the old road into our drains and now they are clogged,” she said.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/29/stories/2009072959330300.htm)

Yes Mr.Murthy you are right, this is what happens in india. Money sanctioned but not utilised. But I feel we are only responsible for this. we need to ask what is released and how it is utilised.

But time changes. Now due to media and communication. all these things are comming out and make people accountable.

visnaya, now a days most of the media are also biased. There could have been patriotic media giving right news during independence struggle. But, now a days it is very difficult to verify correctness of any news.

visnaya, now a days most of the media are also biased. There could have been patriotic media giving right news during independence struggle. But, now a days it is very difficult to verify correctness of any news.


I am a regular viewer of NDTV. It is a very opinionistic channel.Similarly as more and more people now have access to media they are swayed by what they write.This is very much true in the UK also where the press is much more free than in India.
It is very difficult to know what is true or untrue as different papers mention the news in different ways adding or deleting things according to their whims and fancies.

Regarding the article above there could be some truth in it as these things are happening all over India. The gap between the rich and poor is increasing sadly .India has consistently neglected its poor and rural areas. It is so evident .An Indian darshan is bare testimony to this.

http://www.udayavani.com/relatedfiles/Fly-Over_677812_1.jpg

The BC Road flyover work is going on with full speed. The goal is to build alternative roads on both sides once the rain subdues and then to complete flyover works. 60 meters of alternative road on one side is already complete. In the next stage lintel works will be taken up on all pillars simultaneously.

Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=677812&lang=2)

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/2063/goldensquare.jpg (http://img220.imageshack.us/i/goldensquare.jpg/)

Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/epaper/PDFList.aspx?Pg=H&Edn=MN&DispDate=7/31/2009)

Puttur, Jul 30: Road transport and national highways (NH) department at the centre has released Rs 115 crore for concretization of 26-km-stretch of Shiradhi Ghat road on NH-48, said member of parliament (MP) Nalin Kumar Kateel.

Informing this to media persons from New Delhi, Nalin said that the works will be undertaken in two phases, simultaneously dividing the works between two stretches of 13 kms each. Separate tenders will be called for two phases, he said.

Union Minister T R Baalu has ordered the department to begin the works by November 2 and completed it within the next six months, informed MP. Further, the minister has assured to study the report submitted by the state government on survey conducted by a private firm from Bangalore on converting the Shiradi stretch into fourlane and accordingly act upon it, Nalin added.


Source: Daijiworld (http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=63377&n_tit=Puttur%3A+Centre+Releases+RS+115+Crore+For+Shiradi+Ghat+Road+-+Works+Likely+to+Begin+by+Nov+2+)

‘Court complex to be completed within two-and-half years’
Mangalore, DHNS:

The work on court complex will be completed within two-and-half years, said PWD, Ports and Inland Trsnport department Principal Secretary R B Agavane.

Speaking to presspersons after inspecting the ongoing work on Court complex in Mangalore on Saturday, he said “I will recommend for the release of addditional Rs 5.6 crore for the completion of the court complex.”

“It is true that the work on court complex is going on in a snail’s pace. The next work on the complex will be given under single tender package system. Court proceedings can be carried out in the already completed building. I have asked Deputy Commissioner, Bar Association to hold discussion and decide on a date to start the court proceedings in the building.

Electricity and water supply will be provided to the already completed building.”

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/17307/court-complex-completed-two-half.html

^^ Not only court complex but there are lot of other government offices buildings along Maidan road going on at snails pace. Even university college building works are stuck up for a long time. Only road concretization works are going on with right speed.

Other then this I would have prefered district offices buildings to be shifted near Kankanady station (Mangalore Junction) so that people visitng these offices (may be even Wenlock or LadyGoschan Hospitals which are district hospitals) from other parts of district like Bantwal, Belthangady, Puttur & Sullia need not unneccessarily add to the traffic to Hampankatte.

krishnamoorthy I am very happy to know that MCC has been granted 25 crores for the pavement works...i think that amount wud suffice to meet the needs of the city pavements..... are they taking up works under the CM's 100 crore grant or MCC has been granted additional 25 crores..??

which road is this..?? looks new to me...and the concreting looks fresh.....:cheers:

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which road is this..?? looks new to me...and the concreting looks fresh.....:cheers:

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Akash, its none other than the road developed by infosys some 7 years ago, the first 4 lane road in mangalore, i guess, this was there even before MG road.

Sanju has got very good memory power. I also think it is Ladyhill circle - Kottarachoki road somewhere near urwa stores.

krishnamoorthy I am very happy to know that MCC has been granted 25 crores for the pavement works...i think that amount wud suffice to meet the needs of the city pavements..... are they taking up works under the CM's 100 crore grant or MCC has been granted additional 25 crores..??

The news in post #1332 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=40468066&postcount=1332) says that Rs.25 crore is sanctioned. I think Rs. 100 crore will be sanctioned in stages. I don't how much of it is sanctioned already. Depending on the progress of the works state government is sanctioning 100 crore special grant in stages. If the progress is good the post #1286 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=39738856&postcount=1286) says that an additional money upto 50 crore will be sanctioned. So MCC is eligible for a total special grant of Rs. 150 crores.

Sanju has got very good memory power. I also think it is Ladyhill circle - Kottarachoki road somewhere near urwa stores.

See krishna moorthy, i know each and every nook and corner of mangalore, after all we have roamed all around on these roads for 3 years..love the city a lot, its very much like our home...:)

Race to spend Rs 50 crore grant
TNN 2 August 2009, 10:52pm IST

MANGALORE: Mangalore City Corporation is virtually racing against a deadline to utilize the Rs 100 crore special grant provided to it by the
state government. The corporation has to utilize Rs 50 crore released to it on or before September 15, failing which it has to surrender the unutilized money to the government. If the civic body utilizes the same and sends the utilization certificate, the government will release the remaining Rs 50 crore.

Mayor M Shankar Bhat chairing the monthly meeting of the corporation here on Friday took note of the concerns expressed by corporators on the misery that people were facing on account of the massive road concretisation drive taken by the body. This has led to repeated traffic snarls in many places across the city, corporators said adding that in some case people utilizing the road have been put to grave danger.

Noting that heavy rain had scuttled or pushed back a road map drawn up by the body to start and in some places complete the road concretisation work, the mayor assured the agitated corporators that all the works would be completed in the next two years. Bhat also informed them about the condition imposed by the government on utilization of Rs 100 crore special and additional Rs 50 crore SFC grants given to the corporation.

Stating that the DC, who is the nodal officer to oversee works undertaken using the special grants, the mayor said the DC has already warned contractors who are lagging behind in executing the works to pick up pace and finish the work as per the deadlines given to them. The inconvenience caused to the people on this account is unavoidable, but one, which would ensure that they have a smooth ride in the future, he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/City/Mangalore/Race-to-spend-Rs-50-crore-grant/articleshow/4849380.cms

http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/exclusive_arch.asp?ex_id=1125


That Karnataka is the I T capital of India is well established and well-known. What is not known to most of us is that when it comes to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) projects it is said that Karnataka is on an equal footing with Bihar, lagging behind in all aspects of implementing NHAI projects. One can but envision the fate of various projects undertaken by NHAI in the state that are moving at a snail’s pace or are stalled midway, having been caught in a whirl pool of controversies. Unfortunately the list includes the much hyped ongoing 37.5 kms stretch four-lane Port Connectivity Project between Surathkal and B C Road, Mangalore. So we need not have a more convincing example to reaffirm Karnataka’s position vis-à-vis other states that would certainly put a question mark on its reputation

This much-touted four-lane high way project is in the news once again and for all the wrong reasons, as has been the case ever since the 4-laning project began. It is the apathy of our elected representatives, our bureaucracy and the ‘it does not bother me’ attitude of the citizens of the district that are prompting National Highway Authority of India to shelve this project any time, Given the present status of the project and the hurdles that have been put on its path, the signals are out and clear. NHAI wants to put an end to its nightmarish experience for the past four years, ever since this ambitious project was begun.


















Threat to Quit:

The four-lane road with six one way and one two-way flyover, was considered to be a solution for traffic snarls and other ills that affects traffic on NH’s 13, 17 and 48 passing through the district. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) which is in charge of the project, has finally decided to call it quits and leave the project in “as it is stage” if the state does not extend cooperation in implementing the project. The main grouse of the NHAI is that it is not getting the required co-operation from the state government and the local authorities in completing the project. Despite extending the deadline twice it has failed to make any considerable progress.

The deadlock on the project has arisen mainly because the IRCON International Ltd, the contractors of NHAI, has requested NHAI to relieve them from the project due to the losses they have suffered as a result of delay. “To relieve means we will have to close the project, as IRCON feels there is no chance of the situation improving”, Gawasane says. He further adds, “in any project, we have to take into account the interest of the people. If majority of the people of the district are against the project, there is no way we can go ahead with our work”.

Under this backdrop, Project Director of NHAI P N Gawasane says, “now we have decided to complete the work wherever the land is available, even in patches. We have completed 21 kms of four-lane work out of the 37.5 kms involved in the project. If we find there is nothing to work, we will close the project as it is. We will complete the work by December 2009 but the decision on the closure will be taken within a month or two”.

No Land – No Work

According to Gawasane, the state government has not been able to handover the notified land for the project, despite NHAI’s efforts to get the land required. Underground water and electric cables in Kulur and Nanthoor junction have not been shifted to enable them to undertake the work of the flyovers. “Both the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) and the MESCOM have not heeded to our requests to shift utilities. With obstacles at every step, we have been doing patch works wherever the land is clear for us to go ahead with the work. In Surathkal where the building is under litigation we have left that portion and gone ahead with our work”, contends Gawasane.

NHAI says, it is the combination of the lethargic attitude of bureaucracy, elected representatives and lack of interest evinced by the people in ensuring that the authorities concerned work in earnestness to get the project completed, serves as the main stumbling block. A document available with daiji shows that the home minister had complained to the government about the slow progress of work on NHAI in the meeting chaired by Chief Minister on 7th July 2008. Though instructions were given to the officials concerned including the district deputy commissioner to speed up the work, no concrete steps have been taken in the past one year.

There were 13 litigation cases that came under the purview of this project out of which 11 are disposed and two are still pending. These petitions include those that blocked the work being undertaken in Nanthoor junction. Of the 11 disposed cases, five have gone for writ appeal, which means the NHAI has not yet been able to acquire the land required to carry on the project smoothly.















MCC & MESCOM – Scapegoats or villains?

If we are made to believe that the ball is in the court of MCC or MESCOM, here is a reality check. Mayor Shankar Bhat, when contacted, categorically denied that MCC was responsible for the delay in shifting the cables. “NHAI has awarded the contract of shifting cables to L & T. Whenever we have been asked to make payments, we have done and so far we have deposited almost 8 crores for this purpose. In fact, it is NHAI which is not taking us into confidence or consulting us. Ever since I have become mayor, I have not been consulted or called for any meetings in this regards. We come to know about all the developments only through the press”, said a furious Shankar Bhat when contacted for his comments. He also pointed out that it is the responsibility of NHAI to get the land records cleared and local authorities cannot get into this aspect of clearing land records.


Shankar Bhat said that the corporation is ready to talk to the NHAI officials because he feels, they cannot put the blame on the City Corporation and get away without completing the project. “We would like to talk to NHAI and settle the issue with regard to our lapses vis-à-vis their inefficiency,” he added.

Executive engineer of MESCOM, who did not want to be named when contacted, puts the blame squarely on NHAI saying “the project is delayed mainly because of land acquisition problem and not due to shifting of underground cables. The work of shifting of cables is entrusted to L & T but they are not able to undertake the work as NHAI has failed to clear the corridor required to shift the cables. If they provide a clear corridor MESCOM is ready to start the work”, says the official.

The MESCOM contends that if NHAI begins the work, then they would get some idea on the work Mescom is to undertake. Giving an example of the languid attitude of NHAI, he Executive Engineer of MESCOM says “the NHAI could at least start the work of shifting the over line cables between Kulshekar and Nanthoor. This work should have been undertaken by NHAI, which they have failed to do. Though estimation is sanctioned to undertake this work, NHAI has failed to execute the work.

The MESCOM official blames the NHAI for the present impasse, saying that though MESCOM had cleared the cables near Kaikamba to enable NHAI to begin the work on the pillars for the flyover a year back, the work has not yet been started.

The MESCOM official also adds that the Rs 1.75 crore deposited to shift the underground cables of master unit sub station in Nanthoor is only a part of the work. The money deposited with the MESCOM is only for one part of the job. The work involving a balance of 4.25 crores has to be executed by the NHAI. NHAI says it has deposited six crore rupees with MESCOM, a charge denied by MESCOM officials. Executive Engineer says only Rs 1.75 crore has been received by the MESCOM so far.

People’s representatives speak

When contacted telephonically, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, who is in Delhi for the parliament session, said that nothing would happen to the project. “I have raised the issue with regard to the project in the ongoing parliament session. I have even met the NHAI engineers concerned in the regard. Nothing would happen to the project and it would go on. Actually the project has got an extension up to Kundapur”, he stated. He further added “The problem with NHAI is that it is not taking local people and local representatives into confidence, leading to misunderstanding”.

MLA Krishna Palemar is very forthright in his criticism of the functioning of NHAI. “NHAI has never done the work sincerely despite allotting clear land. Let them answer whether they have done the work where the land is clear?” asked an irritated Palemar. Palemar. He said, it is true there are litigations with regard to acquisition of land. “It is the duty of NHAI to get clear records. They cannot blame the representatives or local leaders for their inefficiency”, he pointed out. Palemar said “we will not allow NHAI to run away from its responsibility. They are answerable to the people. It is only a tactic the officials are adopting to conceal their own lacunae”, he said.

Deadline extended

Now once again December 2009 is the deadline given to NHAI to finish the work. It may be recalled here that the project which was started in 2005 was to be completed by December 2007. It got extended again in 2008. The project got extension twice, largely due to the issue of litigation with regard to land acquisition. As a result, the cost of the project also has been rising from 196 crores in 2003 to about Rs. 250 crores as on December 2009. While the cost of civil construction is Rs. 168 crores utility shifting payment has come to about Rs. 29 crores which includes land acquisition, support staff salaries, payment to forest department etc,.

NHAI seems to have learnt a bitter lesson out of its experience in Mangalore. Project Director Gawsane says NHAI “would not begin the work if 80 per cent of the land acquisition is not done before the project gets started.

Judging impassively, the project lacks co-ordination at various levels such as the local representatives, bureaucracy, elected representatives and the NHAI officials. Given the track record of NHAI, which has shelved projects earlier citing similar reasons in Tuticorin and Kochi to name a few, such abandoned project hardly gets any bidders and it does not get takers.

It is therefore imperative that the project should go on in the larger interests of the district. Having endured all the hardships in the last four years as a result of the work undertaken by NHAI in a haphazard manner, it cannot just walk out of the project at its own whims and fancies. It is high time NHAI pulls itself together and goes ahead with its work, rather than get itself into the blame game.


READ 'EXCLUSIVE ARCHIVES'

^^

What is not known to most of us is that when it comes to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) projects it is said that Karnataka is on an equal footing with Bihar, lagging behind in all aspects of implementing NHAI projects.


Above statement may not be true. Check the business standard news here - NHAI accelerates on land acquisition offices (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/nhai-acceleratesland-acquisition-offices/365357/). The news states that "Around 40 SLUs (Special Land Acquisition Units) are already operational in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. And same type of SLUs will be opened in other parts of country." So, Karnataka is ahead of rest country as far as SLUs are considered atleast.

http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/daya_310709_road16.jpg

The tiled yellowish house, where a tempo is moving, may be the real reason for the delay here. I can make a wild guess on what might have happened here. The NHAI initially might have thought that the house need not be acquired as width of the available land is adequate to go ahead but realized later after filling the soil that extra width is needed at the base to have adequate slope. In addition NHAI might not have planned for the road which goes down here.

In a similar case earlier, NHAI had not planned for alternative road near KPT where a road was running parallel to NH-17 & KPT compound to Vyasa Nagara and it constructed the road here after the people went on agitation.

We already know that NHAI had not done proper soil testing before starting flyover works.

So, there may be enough evidence to prove that land requirement & amount of work survey was done inadequately. NHAI approach may be to start work and then only realize that there is need for extra work or extra land. Hence, there is a need to train the NHAI engineers for doing proper surveys & plan.

Also I expect a national organization like NHAI should have a good coordination plan to involve locals in progress review & issue resolution meetings. NHAI being one of the important body at national level should plan properly for coordination meetings.

Similar to district-in-charge minister there is a need for state-in-charge minister for coordinating all central government projects (national highways, railways, and other central government projects) at state level. (I don't think Karnataka State's representative in Delhi has enough power to do coordination works.)

^^

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The city corporation has invited bids for the renovation of four important circles in Mangalore
The proposal is said to have been dropped for technical reasons
Three private agencies to build 219 bus shelters


MANGALORE: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is heading the Mangalore City Corporation, appears to be drifting away from a poll promise made in 2007 of constructing pedestrian subways at Hampankatta Circle and Ambedkar Circle (formerly Jyothi Circle) here.

In its election manifesto for the 2007 civic polls, the BJP had promised (subject number 4) that it would construct pedestrian subways at the two circles to ensure that the people crossed the roads easily. But in a latest move, the civic body has proposed to develop these circles, without mentioning about subways.

Tender invitation

The corporation had invited bids for developing these two circles and also the A.B. Shetty Circle and Bunts Hostel Circle, on October 20, 2008. However, the corporation issued another notification on July 29 inviting bids for develop the same four circles. G.V. Rajashekaramurthy, Executive Engineer of the corporation, told The Hindu that the second notification was issued since there was no response for the first one from bidders. “There is no proposal to construct pedestrian subways at the circles,” he said.

Mayor M. Shankar Bhat told The Hindu that the circles would be widened and concreted “scientifically”.

The engineering division of the corporation had pointed out that the construction of pedestrian subways at Hampankatta and Ambedkar circles was not technically feasible given the availability of land there. “We have dropped the plans of constructing subways now,” he said. Stating that the four circles had not been formed scientifically he said that some circles were wider in one side and narrow on the other. They would be renovated with proper centring, he added.

Survey

The Mayor said that the Directorate of Urban Land Transport was conducting a survey to draw plans for improving the land transport in the city.

“We will take its suggestion and examine if subways can be constructed at Hampankatta Circle and Ambedkar Circle.

Only if its engineering unit suggests that subways can be built within the available land there, we can consider building them,” he said.

Bus shelters

The council of the corporation in its meeting on July 31 approved a proposal of getting 219 bus shelters built by three local private advertisement agencies. The cost of construction would be borne by the agencies and they would maintaining the shelters for 10 years. The revenue section of the corporation has identified the 219 places for the shelters. The entire project has been divided into 10 packages. The Mayor told The Hindu that he would convene a meeting of advertisement agencies soon to decide on commencing the work. The bus shelters would be constructed even on interior roads. “Their task is not to build bus shelters only in busy areas. The contract will be awarded on the condition that bus shelters will be built on interior roads also,” he said.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/04/stories/2009080459650300.htm)

I think Hampanakatte needs subways immediately. If land is not available they can hire shops. All they have to do is dig ground underneath shop and put electrical lifts connecting to subways.

Hello, need your expert opinion. I am planning to buy a plot near kuttar/deralakatte. Do you think its a good investment option. What do you think is fair price to pay per cents (~200 meters from the main road) in this area. What is the future prospect for development here. Thank you.

^^ Ravish, welcome to SSC. There is a proposal for worldclass intercity near Mangalore using JNNURM fund as per post #1310 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=39927366&postcount=1310). I don't know where is this coming up. This may be a region for potential growth. The state government has also proposal for Mangalore-Surathkal-Udupi ITIR. (IT Infrastructure Region). Another region of interest is Ganjimatt. The whole region surrounding airport terminal has potential for growth.

If you see the map below the Deralakatte-Konaje region can be brought closer to Mangalore by constructing a new bridge over Netravathi. I think the only empty space available near Mangalore is Neermarga & this one.

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/1028/mangamapd2.png (http://img341.imageshack.us/i/mangamapd2.png/)

Which region is best for investment depends upon the political decisions taken by the government.

MANGALORE: The council of Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) has approved a proposal to lay footpath on eight major roads here.

Of the eight roads, footpath will be laid on either side of seven roads. They are: A.B. Shetty Circle-Hamilton Circle Road; Kulur-Kavoor Road; KSRTC Junction-Kuntikana Road; Bejai Circle to Chandrika Extension; Lalbagh-Bejai Circle Road; Hampankatta Circle-Nehru Maidan Road; and Karangalpady Market Road.

Of these roads, the Lalbagh-Bejai Road and Hampankatta Circle-Nehru Maidan Road have been concreted.

The concreting of other roads is under way.

The eighth road on which footpath will be laid is Mannagudda Guruji-Durgamahal Road. According to G.V. Rajashekaramurthy, executive engineer of the corporation, footpath would have to be laid on both sides of this tarred road. He said that the inter-locks based footpath would be laid by utilising a portion of the grants released to the corporation by the State Finance Commission for 2009-10 and from the Rs. 100 crore special grant from the State Government.

Tender process

As the council had approved the proposal, the corporation would invite bids shortly to award the contract for laying the footpaths, he said.

The official said that the corporation recently laid a footpath using inter-locks on one side of the Nehru Maidan Road between A.B. Shetty Circle and the Town Hall.

Mayor of Mangalore M. Shankar Bhat said that the corporation was making all efforts to complete the concreting of A.B. Shetty Circle-Hamilton Circle Road; KSRTC Junction-Kuntikana Road; the stretch between Bejai Circle and Chandrika Extension; and the Karangalpady Market Road, by September-end.

Referring to taking up the concreting of so many roads at a time, he said there was compulsion on the corporation. The State Government had asked it to speed up the road concreting work and had threatened to withhold a part of the Rs. 100 crore special grant. The Government had asked the corporation to utilise the grant by September-end. The corporation could not speed up the projects in the last two months owing to rains, he said.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/05/stories/2009080559520300.htm)

Larsen & Toubro is the front-runner among two companies in the race to bag the Rs 300 crore order for construction of the ductile iron spun pipe (DISP) plant of KIOCL Ltd, earlier known as the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd, the public sector undertaking under the ministry of steel and mines. KIOCL plans to set up a 100,000 tonnes per annum DISP plant at Mangalore as part of its diversification.

L&T has emerged as the L1 bidder for the project. Recently, the KIOCL board shortlisted L&T and another company through a global bidding route for the proposed project. The KIOCL board is likely to meet next week to take a final call in this matter, K Ranganath, chairman-cum-managing director, KIOCL said.

The scope of work includes design, engineering, procurement, manufacturing, inspection, packing and forwarding, supply, erection, testing, commissioning and performance guarantee tests and handing over of 100,000 tonnes per year capacity of ductile iron spun pipe plant on lump sum turnkey basis.

This is the second time that L&T has been shortlisted for the project. Earlier, in April 2008 the company participated in the global tender to bag the project. However, KIOCL board had called off the project following a higher price quoted by a bidder as against the company’s expectations. The board wanted a better offer due to global recession and decided to go for fresh tender in January this year. Subsequently, in February this year, the company floated global re-tender. In response, it received three offers.

However, following techno-commercial evaluation, two offers were found acceptable including L&T. “The price bids of both the acceptable offers were opened and L&T has emerged as the L1 bidder. The proposal for placement of order on L1 party is being processed for approval of placement of order. L&T is asking some extra points and we are currently negotiating with them and once the board decides the bid will be finalized,” Ranganath told Business Standard.

KIOCL, as of March 31, 2008, has a cash reserve of Rs 1,468 crore.

KIOCL, an export-oriented public sector unit, planned to build the DISP plant adjacent to its pig iron plant in Mangalore on the west coast. The proposed plant will utilise pig iron with low phosphorous and low sulphur, already produced by the company.

Ductile iron spun pipes are used in most advanced and developing countries because of its superiority over the cast iron spun pipes. Even in India, there is a huge demand for spun pipes from various state governments, urban development bodies. They are used in irrigation projects, drinking water supply and sewerage projects and other large infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, the company has restarted its pellet plant in Mangalore, which had been closed for six months due to a lack of demand for its products in the international market.

The plant, restarted on July 18 is presently producing around 9,000 tonnes per day. Its first consignment of about 50,000 tonnes was sold at close to $76 per tonne to Bhushan Steel in the domestic market. The second consignment, its first overseas shipment of another 60,000 tonnes at $97 per tonne, is presently being loaded at Mangalore port for a Chinese customer, the sources said.


Source: BS (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/lt-in-race-for-kiocl%5Cs-rs-300-crore-order/366080/)

A Rs. 4-crore proposal in this regard is awaiting approval
The society has built an open-air theatre
Boating facility introduced at the lake




MOODBIDRI: The Kadalakere Nisargadhama, which includes a lake spread over 17 acres and a “Samskriti grama”, here, is likely to get a facelift if the State Government approves a Rs. 4-crore development plan sent by the Kadalakere Nisargadhama Society.

The plan includes de-silting of the lake, construction of a tower for watching birds, building of a hanging bridge as well as cottages for tourists, developing a garden, strengthening of lake bunds and growing of bamboo in the vicinity.

‘Vanamahotsava’

Speaking to presspersons on the sidelines of a “Vanamahotsava”, organised by the Department of Forests here on Wednesday, P. Manjunatha Shetty, secretary of the society, said the Department of Minor Irrigation de-silted a portion of the lake this summer at an estimated cost of Rs. 35 lakh. However, there was a need to de-silt other portions of the lake to augment the water-storing capacity.

Mr. Shetty, who is also Assistant Conservator of Forests, Moodbidri sub-division, said the nisargadhama was spread over 40 acres of land. Efforts were on to develop this into a tourist spot.

The society has constructed an open-air theatre, and laid “kambala” (slush tracks for buffalo race) tracks at “Samskriti grama” inside the nisargadhama. In addition, rest house, toilet and drinking water facilities are being created.

Mr. Shetty said the society had also introduced boating facility at the lake.

Other plans

He said the Department of Forests would develop other infrastructure such as “Konaje Kallu” (where large granite monoliths are located) near Moodbidri at an estimated cost of Rs. 3 lakh. According to the plan, a trekkers’ path would be laid to the monoliths. In addition, a rest house would be built there and drinking water facility and solar lighting system installed.

Earlier, Moodbidri MLA K. Abhayachandra Jain and students participated in an afforestation programme.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/06/stories/2009080660040300.htm)

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6060/blueberryhills2.jpg

Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/epaper/PDFList.aspx?Pg=H&Edn=MN&DispDate=8/7/2009)

The industrial areas are almost full and there is no scope for new small and medium entrepreneurs to set up their units.
A.J. Vinayak



At a time when Mangalore is emerging as an investment destination for many companies, the local small and medium entrepreneurs are finding it difficult to get land to set up their units. For them, lack of industrial land is a constraint to start a new venture. While the main industrial areas in the region report full occupancy, new industrial area development is yet to gain pace.

Lacking facilities

The issue of lack of industrial space for small entrepreneurs was discussed in the presence of the Karnataka Industries Minister, Mr Murugesh Nirani, at a recent ‘industrial adalat’ in Mangalore. The contention of the entrepreneurs from the region was that most of the industrial areas in the region are already working with full occupancy. In locations where there is some space, such places lack facilities. They also expressed concern over sidelining of local entrepreneurs while allotting lands in some new industrial space development projects.

The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board has developed industrial areas in Baikampady, Karnad, Ganjimath and Mudipu areas in the region. The Baikampady industrial area is the biggest in the region with nearly 940 acres of land. The Karnad and Yeyyadi industrial areas have around 65 and 18 acres of land, respectively.

Mr Sumith Rao, President of the Yeyyadi-based District Small Industries Association, told Business Line that these industrial areas are almost full and there is no scope for the new small and medium entrepreneurs to set up their units in these industrial areas.

Mr G. Giridhar Prabhu, a cashew processor and exporter from the region, who has his unit in Baikampady industrial area, said that land is too pricey for start-up units in Mangalore . Though there is scope for expansion of existing units, the land is a constraint.

Considering the need for industrial space, the Karnataka Government came out with another industrial area in the form of Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) on 205 acres of land at Ganjimath in Mangalore a few years ago. However, the local entrepreneurs said they have hardly got any benefit of industrial space in that project as the allotment of land was done from Bangalore.

The local entrepreneurs are of the view that they should be taken into consideration while allotting industrial space in the region. Mr Rao said that the allotment procedure should be transparent. The district-level single window agency involving representatives from industry associations, development agencies and the departments concerned should be the medium for allotment of lands for small and medium entrepreneurs.

Mr Prabhu said that the land in EPIP has been allotted from Bangalore on request through Karnataka Udyog Mitra. However, the EPIP at Ganjimath has had no development by entrepreneurs as it has not been fully equipped with amenities such as water, electricity, etc. “We have to wait to see whether the entrepreneurs who have booked will actually begin investment,” he said.

Some of the existing entrepreneurs, who want to expand their business, put on hold their plans because of lack of space in their existing locations. Mr Rao said that such entrepreneurs, who contribute to the Government in the form of prompt tax payments, should be incentivised by way of lands at subsidised rates.

“Though we have been seeking a new industrial area for Mangalore, we have been getting only assurances and no action on this front,” Mr Rao said.

Parcels of land

If the Government comes out with an industrial area at least on 200 acres of land in Mangalore, then it will be completely occupied in one year. However, the new industrial area should be equipped with all the basic facilities.

He said that small entrepreneurs should be given lands in parcels of 25-50 cents (one acre is equal to 100 cents) in the new industrial area, and they should be given a three-year gestation period to start their units. There should be a concrete plan for the development of new industrial areas.

Stressing the need for additional industrial space in Mangalore, Ms Lata Kini, a woman entrepreneur from Baikampady, said that even if the Government thinks of a new industrial area for local entrepreneurs in Mangalore, the price should be reasonable and within the reach of the small businessman.

Mr K. Narasimha Prabhu, an entrepreneur from Mangalore, said that there is scope for the development of new industrial area. He suggested that the new industrial area could be developed at Talapady near Kerala border or Mudipu area, exclusively for the SME sector.

The Karnataka Government has announced plans to create land bank for industrial units in the State. It is to be seen whether the proposed plan will help solve the problem of small entrepreneurs from Mangalore region.


Source: The Hindu Business Line (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/iw/2009/08/09/stories/2009080950701500.htm)

Association says at least two more such facilities should be created in Mangalore
Land available at Emmekere, Urwastore, and near KPT Circle
Schoolchildren in the State to be taught swimming under ‘Swim Karnataka’ project

MANGALORE: The newly appointed Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) Commissioner K.N. Vijayaprakash said on Saturday that the building of a new swimming pool here would be one of his priorities.

Speaking at a function organised by the Karnataka Swimming Association (KSA), he said that land was available at Emmekere, Urwastore, and near KPT Circle.

He was responding to the members of the KSA, who said that there was a need for at least two more swimming pools in the city to promote the sport.

Commissioner of the Mangalore Urban Development Authority P.G. Ramesh said that a proposal to build a 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool at Emmekere was pending approval for10 years. The process might gain momentum with the renewed interest being shown in the matter, he added.

T.D. Vijayaraghavan, honourary secretary of KSA, said that the Bangalore-based KSA had started a “Swim Karnataka” project. It aimed at teaching swimming to every school-going child in the State in the next 20 years. “For this, we need infrastructure at the district level,” he said.

He pointed out that most of the swimming pools in Mangalore were underutilised. They had the potential to extend their facilities to a much larger section of the city’s population.

The swimming pools owned by private institutions should be opened for the public for a fee.

It would be beneficial for both the owners as well as the people, he added.

Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Gopal B. Hosur, who is a member of the KSA, said that in private swimming pools only around 20 people turned up every day. “They can accommodate over 200 people,” he said.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/09/stories/2009080958520300.htm)

The document will cover the legal aspects of the MoU signed by city corporation and MSESL earlier
Corporation is setting up four sewage treatment plants in Mangalore with ADB loan
Treated water from Pachchanady plant to be used at Pilikula for irrigation

MANGALORE: The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) and the Mangalore Special Economic Zone Ltd (MSEZL) will be signing the memorandum of agreement (MoA) within a fortnight on maintaining the four sewage treatment plants here and permitting the latter for using the processed sewage water, according to Mayor M. Shankar Bhat.

Earlier, the city corporation and MSEZL had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect. While the MoU had focussed on the maintenance of the plants and the utilisation of treated water, the MoA would cover the legal aspects involved in it. The Memorandum of Agree,emt would make the contents of MoU legally binding on the two parties, he said.

The Mayor held a meeting with the authorities of MSEZL and others for finalising the draft MoA here on Thursday.

Mr. Bhat told The Hindu on Friday that Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) had constructed STPs at Kavoor and Pachchanady for the corporation. The construction of the remaining two STPs at Surathkal and Jeppinamogaru was on the verge of completion. They were being built with the loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank, he said.

Once the four STPs became operational, the MSEZL would be getting 18 MGD (million gallons a day) of processed water. The STP at Kavoor had become operational and was discharging five to six MGD of treated water. “Now, no one is using this treated water. It is being discharged to sea,” he said and added that the plant at Pachchanady was yet to become operational.

A senior MSEZL official told The Hindu that the company would not use the treated water from Pachchanady plant although it would maintain it as agreed upon. It was expected to get 18 MGD of treated water from the other three plants. Treated water from Pachchanady plant would be diverted to Pilikula Nisargadhama, he said.

J.R. Lobo, executive director, Pilikula Nisargadhama Society, and deputy project director of KUIDFC, told The Hindu that the sewage would be treated twice in all the four STPs. But, the Pilikula Nisargadhama Society would treat it again for the third time before using it for irrigation purpose.

The Mayor said that the corporation and the MSEZL would jointly constitute a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV – a company for implementing a specific project) for maintaining the plants. The SPV would have five directors, three from the MSEZL and two from the corporation.

The Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada would be the final authority for settling disputes, if any, he said.

The cost of maintaining the four plants would be shared in the ration of 70:30 by MSEZL and the corporation in that order.

Chief operating officer of MSEZL A.G. Pai, MLA N. Yogish Bhat, and Chairman of Karnataka Coastal Area Development Authority B. Nagaraja Shetty took part in the Thursday’s meeting, apart from Mr. Lobo and Mr. Bhat.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/08/stories/2009080860250300.htm)

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=63819&n_tit=Mangalore%3A+Dix+Engineering+Co+introduces+Slip+Form+Paver+Machine

^^

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/9858/20090807palemar1.jpg (http://img38.imageshack.us/i/20090807palemar1.jpg/)

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Mangalore became the first city in the state to use a concrete road developer today. It can lay a concrete road of one kilometer per day and do many more works in keeping the road in good health.

The first 'Compactor' in the state is owned by the Dix developers a company of Dix shipping owned by Mr. Devananda Shetty. The Compactor was inaugurated by the District in-charge minister Mr. Krishna Palemar at the road development project of City Corporation at Kuntikana junction on Friday Morning.

The compactor which has been imported from Germany has been put in place by the engineers of the company in a record time of one week Mr.Shetty told.

The machine has been developed on the lines of the paver finish machine that are commonly used in the bitumen surfaces in India. The machine can mix concrete, spread it evenly on the road surface, compact it and give a fine finish on the surface. It can work in all weather and will do work of over 100 people in a day. It has cost him over one crore Mr. Shetty added.


Source: Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=139456)

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=63819&n_tit=Mangalore%3A+Dix+Engineering+Co+introduces+Slip+Form+Paver+Machine

Ajay in mangalorean.com they have detailed pictures of paver machine on 7th aug. please check if you have missed it

This college uses 'GREEN ARCHITECTURE' for its buildings.

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=63868

^^

http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/ganu_090809_bearys1.jpg

http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/ganu_090809_bearys2.jpg

Source: Daijiworld


MANGALORE: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa will inaugurate the Bearys Institute of Technology (BIT), a private engineering college, at Innoli Padavu, about 25 km away from the city, on Monday.

It is the first integrated residential engineering college being opened in Dakshina Kannada. This will take the number of engineering colleges in the district to 14, apart from the National Institute of Technology – Karnataka, Surathkal.

Managed by the Bearys Group, the BIT is located near Mangalore University.

Addressing presspersons on the college campus on Sunday Syed Mohamed Beary, chairman and managing Trustee of the governing council of the college, said that the building had been built with “green architecture”, which allowed maximum utilisation of natural light in the college building. The intake of students permitted by the All India Council for Technical Education for the current year is 240. The college was affiliated to VTU, Belgaum, he said.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/10/stories/2009081058550300.htm)

Road closed for concreting

Staff Correspondent

Ban order to be in force till completion of work

MANGALORE: In-charge Deputy Commissioner S.A. Prabhakar Sharma has banned the movement of vehicles on the stretch between Padil Junction on National Highway 48 and railway crossing on Padil-Bajal Road from Tuesday to facilitate the concreting of the stretch by the city corporation, an official press release said.

Accordingly, light motor vehicles should use the narrow stretch from Amar Alva bus stand (near Naguri) on NH 48 to reach Mangalore Junction Railway Station. Buses and other heavy and light motor vehicles plying between Jalligudde, Bajal, Veeranagara and the city through NH 48 should use NH 17, and take a diversion at Ekkur for to and fro journey. The ban would be in force till the completion of concreting work, the release said.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/11/stories/2009081159490300.htm

Road closed for concreting

Staff Correspondent

Ban order to be in force till completion of work

MANGALORE: In-charge Deputy Commissioner S.A. Prabhakar Sharma has banned the movement of vehicles on the stretch between Padil Junction on National Highway 48 and railway crossing on Padil-Bajal Road from Tuesday to facilitate the concreting of the stretch by the city corporation, an official press release said.

Accordingly, light motor vehicles should use the narrow stretch from Amar Alva bus stand (near Naguri) on NH 48 to reach Mangalore Junction Railway Station. Buses and other heavy and light motor vehicles plying between Jalligudde, Bajal, Veeranagara and the city through NH 48 should use NH 17, and take a diversion at Ekkur for to and fro journey. The ban would be in force till the completion of concreting work, the release said.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/11/stories/2009081159490300.htm


Anyone can tell me why this road is upgraded to concrete,is it connecting from highway to kankanady railway station, why this interior road is so important??

Anyone can tell me why this road is upgraded to concrete,is it connecting from highway to kankanady railway station, why this interior road is so important??


Is this the road from MAJN?(Mangalore Junction)

^^ I think so. The goal is to concretize all bus routes. The concretization work is going on not only within MCC limits but even in all important roads throughout the district. Bus routes getting priority.

Note that due to objections the Kadri road concretization is not going on currently. People want Bendorewell-Kadri Market road to be completed first. So they might have taken up other roads instead of Kadri Road.

Other than Hampankatte even Surathkal, Katipalla, Ullal roads are also getting conceretized.

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/7413/20090813nalin1.jpg (http://img30.imageshack.us/i/20090813nalin1.jpg/)

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MP of Mangalore Mr.Nalin Kumar Kateel today visited the Airport at Bajpe and inspected the airport terminal building that is coming up at Kenjar village near Bajpe.

Mr.Kateel met the new director of the airport N.P. Chandran who has taken charge recently and directed him to speed up the work of the new terminal building. He told the press that he intends to get the date of the Union Minister for Civil Aviation Mr. Praful Patel for inaugurating the terminal building on 30th October which is just 75 days away.

Mr. Kateel expressed satisfaction over the quality of the work done at the project site. But said he was not happy at the pace the work was going on and requested the airport director to put some more people on the work.

Mr. Kateel said when the airport terminal was completed, Mangalore will join the an elite club of 35 tier II cities in the country that have elegant looking and technologically on par with any modern airports in the country. He said he would like to see the passengers arriving into Mangalore during the festive season in the new terminal.

The new terminal building is equipped with 22 check in counters, three conveyor belts and a car parking area which can accommodate over 300 cars at any point of time. The new terminal once in operation, will reduce the distance to Mangalore city by about 8 kms. The apron spread over the area of 48,000 sq.meters can accomodate five aircrafts at a time, said Mr. Chandran.

He appreciated the far sightedness of the planners of the AAI particularly that part where the parking bays have been enhanced in numbers from 5 to ten flights at a time. The baggage clearance area, the modern outlook of the building and many other features including the parking place has been appreciated by the MP.

Mr. Chandran who accompanied Mr. Kateel said the work of the terminal was going as per schedule.


Source: Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=140425)

The seven-storied Trade Centre, that was engulfed in a fire on Wednesday, had neither received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) nor a Clearance Certificate (CC) from the District Fire Services Department, both S Sandhu IGP (Fire Services) and Fire and Emergency Services director B C Chengappa confirmed to Express on Thursday.

The Trade Centre fire had taken more than four hours of fire fighting to rescue the 100 people trapped in the building.

Six firefighters had sustained minor injuries in the process and two are still being treated in the hospital.

Sandhu said that out of the 73 buildings had submitted CC and NOC application for fire safety clearance, only two had received CC and 36 buildings had been granted NOC.

“Most applications had been rejected as the buildings did not have a 12 metre approach road (including footpath),’’ Sandhu said. .

Sandhu told express that the NOC given to the controversial City Centre building on K S Rao road was withdrawn after it failed to provide a 10 metre set back area on either sides.


Source: EB (http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=M%E2%80%99lore+building+did+not+have+NoC+on+fire+safety&artid=6DqnVQtRmuQ=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==&SEO=)

Read news on fire incident here (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=140165).

^^The latest update from Daijiworld (http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=64005).

Update at 2.35pm, IST, Aug 12, 2009

After an operation by the fire brigade that took nearly three hours, the chief fire officer, H S Varadarajan, declared that the fire dousing operation has been successfully concluded and that the fire personnel have been checking out all the floors in the building.

He claimed that the operation was rendered very difficult, because of the fact that fire fighting equipments not put in place in this multistoried building, in violation of the code for construction of buildings.

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MANGALORE Aug 15: Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, on Thursday suggested the officials of Mangalore airport to explore the possibility of producing hydro electric power from the check dam the State Government was planning to construct across the Phalguni at Maravoor.

Maravoor is near Kenjar where the new integrated terminal building of the airport is coming up.

After reviewing the progress of the construction work on the new terminal building at Kenjar on Thursday, the MP said that if hydro electric power could be produced from the proposed check dam, it could be used to meet the requirement of power at the new terminal building.

In addition to the one-km-long concreted road laid by the Government connecting the new terminal building site with the Mangalore-Bajpe road, the AAI could construct a staircase to the terminal building site from the road.

Those willing to reach the airport by walk could use them. Later, the MP told presspersons that the stretch between Mangalore and Maravoor bridge on the Mangalore-Bajpe-Kateel-Mulky Road was being upgraded into four-lane. There was a need to upgrade the remaining stretch up to Mulky, he added.


Source: Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=140598)

First, check dams are fine. Also, many more bridges are needed across both rivers Netravathi & Phalguni. So, the government may explore possibility of constructing 'dam cum bridge' in many places.

Second, the staircase to airport terminal building though sound odd at first thought, still the idea may need some more thinking. The fact is that many users of these airport are from poor family and working in gulf countries as labourers. Generally their family also like to visit airport for receiving or sending them off. These people prefer to travel by bus or train. There is a proposal to develop Kenjar railway station. I am not sure whether there is bus stop near airport terminal. So, a staircase may be useful. Also, useful for airport labourers. Alternatively, if enough money is made available, one can think of having a small railway tunnel (also bus tunnel) (if security permits) and escalators, like in London underground, carrying people directly to check-in counters.

KSIIDCL to conduct feasibility study on building a ring road in Mangalore
Concreting of some major roads in city estimated to cost Rs. 125 crore
The 38-km long and 100-ft wide ring road construction to be taken up under PPP model


MANGALORE: The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) has identified 22 roads in the city for widening, according to N. Yogish Bhat, MLA.

A survey was being conducted in this regard, he said after inaugurating the annual meeting of the Central Market Merchants’ Association here on Sunday.

The roads identified for widening included Bhawanthi Street, Car Street, Mannagudda-Bunder Road, and Mahamai Temple-Dongarakery Canara High School Road, Mr. Bhat said.

The Government, through the city corporation, would concrete some major roads here at an estimated cost of Rs. 125 crore. Concreting of some roads had been completed, some were under way while the work on a few others would begin after the projects at hand were completed, he said.

Mr. Bhat, who is also chairman of the Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation Ltd. (KSIIDCL), said that the Government was examining a proposal to lay a 38-km-long ring road in the city. The KSIIDCL would soon conduct a survey in this regard. In addition, the Government had planned to construct a marine aquarium park at Tannirbavi and a rope-bridge across the Gurpur between Tannirbavi and Sulthan Bathery to attract tourists, he said.

Mr. Bhat said that a team of officials, comprising the Director of the Department of Tourism and the Managing Director of KSIIDCL, would visit the city on Monday and conduct spot inspection for taking up the three projects. Personnel from the Coastal Karnataka Development Authority would also join the team, he added.

Ring road

According to the plan, the proposed 100-ft-wide ring road will branch out on either side of the Nethravathi bridge at Ullal and meet at Gurupur bridge at Kulur on the National Highway 17. It would connect NH 17, NH 48 and NH 13. The KSIIDCL would conduct a survey in this regard. This project would have to be taken up under public-private- partnership (PPP) model. The ring road would help reduce traffic congestion in the city, he said.

The MLA said that construction of marine aquarium park would require Rs. 250 crore. This project also would have to be taken up under PPP model.

Mr. Bhat said that there was a need to construct a super speciality hospital here under PPP model to help the poor. Patients could be offered services at 50 per cent of the treatment cost. Construction of the hospital would require Rs. 200 crore, he said.

J.I. Kittur, Joint Director, Department of Prosecution, and Law Officer in the Office of Director General and Inspector General of Police, Bangalore, was felicitated on the occasion as he had served as public prosecutor in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts till recently.

President of the association K. Shashidharan and general secretary Hameed Kandak were present.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/17/stories/2009081757920300.htm)

Road widening to ease traffic congestion


MANGALORE: Mangalore City Corporation will shortly commence the process of carrying out a survey to widen 22 roads that cause traffic bottlenecks in the city, Mangalore South MLA N Yogish Bhat said here on Sunday.

The Kulur Ferry Road, Bhavanthi Street to Car Street, Mahamayee Temple to Canara High School, as well as the road leading from Bunder to the main branch of State Bank of India here, are the roads to be widened.

Inaugurating the 9th annual general meeting of Central Market Merchants Association here on Sunday, Bhat said civic body that has embarked on a massive road concretization drive will take up the work of laying footpaths and also address the issue of drains along the roads. The overall road improvement work will facilitate easier traffic movement in the city as well as reduce growing traffic congestion, Bhat observed.

The Coastal Development Authority and Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation Limited (KSIIDC), of which he is the chairman, will shortly take up the survey work to ascertain the feasibility of the 31-km Mangala Corniche ring road project. This project, which will connect National Highways 17, 13 and 48, could be taken up on a PPP basis and would also go a long way in reducing traffic congestion, he added.

A team of officials from the tourism department and KSIIDC will tour various places of tourism interest in the city on August 17. Their visit is expected to give a fillip to the Rs 250 crore Marine Aquarium Park planned for the city on a PPP basis. Land has been reserved for the project with assistance from departments of infrastructure and revenue, he said adding that KSIIDC was hopeful of bringing the project to a bidding stage soon.

Referring to large number of daily wage labourers eking out a living at central market here, Bhat said the state government has taken the first step in addressing issues of labourers in the unorganised sector by starting an health insurance and welfare package for the tailors. This scheme will be extended to other labourers in the unorganised sector as per an assurance given by the BJP in its election manifesto, Bhat said.
Exuding confidence about Mangalore along with Belgaum and Hubli-Dharwad being included under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, he said the relaxation of norms would vastly help tier-II cities to get central assistance for development of their infrastructure. Bhat hoped that the Union ministers from Karnataka would press for the case of the coastal city, which is fast emerging as a centre of economic importance.

Bhat felicitated J I Kittur, joint director of prosecution and law officer to the director-general and inspector-general of police on this occasion. Deputy mayor Rajani Duganna, corporators Surekha Srinivas, and K Revathi spoke. Nominated corporator Anil Kumar Attavar was present. Hameed Kandak, general secretary of CMMA welcomed the gathering. K Shashidharan, president presided over the function.


Source: TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/mangalore/Road-widening-to-ease-traffic-congestion/articleshow/4899598.cms)

It looks like Mangalore is leading the pack with regards to infrastructure amongst Tier 2 cities. A good development.

Can anyone tell me what is happening to the City centre Mall? There has been some news of NOC being withdrawn.

^^ Citi Center mall work is going on. After shifting of Bank of India to the mall the construction work is going on at old Bank of India location probably for underground car parking facility. "Lifestyle" is opening very shortly.

Other malls like PIO mall, Ornate mall, Time Square mall may also open very shortly. Excel (or Mischief) mall work is going on probably at a slower space compared to others. Zone-1 (old name spectrum) seems to be stuck up for a long time. In Kankanady, Mak Mall structure is complete. Inland Galore work is going on near Pumpwell circle. No progress on Forum & Plama malls.

^^ There is one more news like above one.

Complaint against former MCC Commissioner

Mangalore, August 17: The district unit of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) filed a complaint with the Lokayukta on Friday against former Mangalore City Corporation in-charge Commissioner P.G. Ramesh.

In the complaint president of the district unit of DYFI Muneer Katipalla has alleged that Ramesh cleared 298 construction projects in the city, without following proper procedures on the last two days of his term here.

Pointing out that all construction proposals were supposed to be signed and cleared by the MCC Commissioner only after proper site verification by the respective engineers, Katipalla has alleged that the clearance certificates were signed without following this procedure.

On July 28 and 29, which were the last working days of Ramesh, the former commissioner convened a clandestine meeting with real estate and construction tycoons in the city. At this meeting, Ramesh, the complainant alleged, held an illegal bidding process and passed pending projects for a hefty bribe. Katipalla alleged that 25 multi-storey buildings promoted by some of the city’s biggest builders were passed during the clandestine meeting. Demanding an immediate inquiry, the DYFI has said that Ramesh should be interrogated.

Expressing fears that a delay in launching the investigation might give the perpetrators time to hide or modify the 298 files in question, the organisation has claimed that the entire episode could not have occurred without the complicity of other officials and the political leadership of the corporation.


Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=684488&lang=1)

^^ Citi Center mall work is going on. After shifting of Bank of India to the mall the construction work is going on at old Bank of India location probably for underground car parking facility. "Lifestyle" is opening very shortly.

Other malls like PIO mall, Ornate mall, Time Square mall may also open very shortly. Excel (or Mischief) mall work is going on probably at a slower space compared to others. Zone-1 (old name spectrum) seems to be stuck up for a long time. In Kankanady, Mak Mall structure is complete. Inland Galore work is going on near Pumpwell circle. No progress on Forum & Plama malls.

Krishnamoorthy you mean to say there is no grand opening date for the mall as you said lifestyle is opening etc. i think all the shops will start opening one by one by their own time. Its a bad idea when most of the shop are soldout they should have given a deadline for opening date. what you say.

Any news about KFC OR Mcdonald comming to citycentre?? & is it true all the brand name shops mentioned in website of citycentre going to open or just a publicity

^^ Yes. I think the shops are going to open one by one. Mostly opening day of cinema screens (fun cinema?) can be considered as the opening day of the mall?

Is there any gated commmuinity villas in mangalore apart from classique village of mahabaleshwara ?

Is there any gated commmuinity villas in mangalore apart from classique village of mahabaleshwara ?

I think there are many gated villas in Mangalore. These are however not promoted by builders but individuals have joined together to build about 10 or 12 houses with security,club,swimming pool etc.They are generally in posh areas like Kadri.Falnir etc

^^ Citi Center mall work is going on. After shifting of Bank of India to the mall the construction work is going on at old Bank of India location probably for underground car parking facility. "Lifestyle" is opening very shortly.

Other malls like PIO mall, Ornate mall, Time Square mall may also open very shortly. Excel (or Mischief) mall work is going on probably at a slower space compared to others. Zone-1 (old name spectrum) seems to be stuck up for a long time. In Kankanady, Mak Mall structure is complete. Inland Galore work is going on near Pumpwell circle. No progress on Forum & Plama malls.

As per their advert City centre will have parking on all floors ! The hypermarket will be on the top floor. It will be a big one nearly 0ne lakh sq feet,Tata West side will have a 65,000 sq feet retail section.

^^ Yes. I think the shops are going to open one by one. Mostly opening day of cinema screens (fun cinema?) can be considered as the opening day of the mall?


Any Idea of the opening date of Fun cinemas?

Mangalore, Aug 18: A decision to earmark and develop 150-acre of land for proposed Marine Aquarium Park and Golf Course at Tannirbavi in the next four months and to call for tenders with private participation was taken in a meeting held at the deputy commissioner’s office in the city here on Monday August 17.

At the meeting presided over by Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation (KSIIDC) president MLA N Yogish Bhat, tourism department director Vishwanath Reddy said that Rs 40 lac as the first installment of funds to develop Rs 5 crore worth hanging bridge between Sultan Battery and Bengre. A comprehensive discussion on development of Kadri Park was undertaken at the meeting.

Funds have been released for development of tourism in the district out of which Rs 51 lac has been released for Panambur beach development, Rs 22.42 lac for development of Tannirbavi sea shore, Rs 22.42 lac for landscaping and other development works with regard to Panambur beach, Rs 22.42 lac for development of Ullal beach and Rs 20 lac for development of Karinjeshwara Temple, Karinje in Bantwal. A total of Rs 10 lac for the development of Kateel Durgaparameshwari Temple, Rs 23.5 lac for concrete helipad at Dharmasthala, Rs 4 lac for the development of Kadalakeri bird sanctuary in Moodbidri and Rs 1 lac for development of facilities of hikers at Konajekallu, Moodbidri have been released.

Karnataka Coastal Development Authority chairman B Nagaraj Shetty and deputy commissioner V Ponnuraj were present.


Source: Daijiworld (http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=64339&n_tit=Mangalore%3A+Tenders+to+Develop+Tourism+Project+at+Tannirbavi+to+be+Called+Soon++)

^^ Sorry. No idea on fun cinemas.

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UDUPI/MANGALORE August 17, 2009: The travel between Mangalore and Udupi has become a nightmare. Thanks to the National Highway 17 --the conditions are not suitable for motoring and the entire stretch is a death trap.

If you are going from Mangalore to Udupi, only the road between Kottara and Hosabettu a distance of 12 kilometers are good and the rest 49 kilometers is nothing short of treachery by the government. After Haleyangady the road gets worse as large potholes, ridges, canyons, craters and simply there are no road stretches where basic ground is visible resulting in a thick shroud of dust rising up every time when a vehicle passes through.

The stretch between Mulky and Padubidri is the worst affected but then the vehicles will have to ride cautiously as the entire road has just vanished, thanks to the Reddy brothers of Bellary and their mining trucks-- the Dakshina Kannada's roads have been ravaged. Mining industry of Bellary was plunging Dakshina Kannada into an underdeveloped area. The MPs of Udupi and Mangalore, the district incharge minister, chairman of the Coastal Development Corporation, MLAs of Mulky-Moodbidri, Kaup and Udupi are not raising a little finger against the condition of the road forcing the motorists to suffer silently.

"Let us not blame only Reddy brothers, there are politicians in our own district involved in transporting the iron ore from Bellary to New Mangalore Port. Several Congress Pudharis own fleets of trucks that are allowed to overload by the transport ministry and the mines and geology department" says one of the bus operators between Mangalore and Udupi.

Very powerful politicians in the Congress and BJP have joined hands in transporting iron ore to Mangalore port, they are having a free run in the coastal roads as they own the government and all the departments. They are overloading the trucks 200 per cent more than the Registered Laden Weight (RLW). A tandem axel truck which is supposed to carry 16 tonnes is carrying 45 tonnes while a single axel truck which is supposed to carry 12 tonnes is carrying 30 tonnes. When the weight displacement of the truck is more than its RLW the effects will be shown on the road, says National Highway engineers.

The Mangalore Udupi road has one more problem some of the stretches are ok, but the motorists cannot take the risk of ripping, as suddenly there are big craters which are big enough to topple a small car or destabilize even the buses. But the bus drivers do not care and they drive through the bad patches as if they do not exist leading to increased chances of collision with other vehicles. A smaller car or a vehicles will have to slow down but the buses would not, one can imagine the outcome in such conditions.


Source: Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=141027)

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Mangalore division is planning to start operating 37 routes in the city

MANGALORE: Mangalore Division of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will have two more depots shortly, one in the city, and another at B.C. Road. These depots will serve as “backbone” of the KSRTC for operating its proposed city buses here. Now it has two depots in the city handling 310 schedules (buses) a day, according to sources.

Sources in the KSRTC told The Hindu that when its two new depots were commissioned, the division could make necessary changes to distribute its schedules, including the proposed city bus schedules, among the four depots. In addition, it could introduce new routes in rural areas and other destinations, they said.

However, the KSRTC is awaiting the approval of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) of Dakshina Kannada to operate 37 city bus schedules.

Officials in the division said they were confident of operating city buses after a month of obtaining the permission from the RTA.

Sources said that a new depot at B.C. Road, which is at 30 km distance from the city, would be ready by next month-end.

It would be commissioned in October. The depot, spread on a four-acre plot, could handle 150 buses or schedules a day. The division was contemplating on operating 60 schedules from the B.C. Road depot, initially.

The KSRTC was building another depot near Kuntikana here on a 3.5-acre land. This depot would be commissioned either in the last week of November or first week of December. It could handle 100 schedules (buses) a day, sources said.

A senior official in the division said that there was no need to call fresh applications to recruit drivers or conductors for operating city buses. A list of eligible candidates for those posts was ready with the division. The list had been prepared based on applications it had received earlier. Hence there was no need to obtain fresh approval from the State Finance Department to recruit personnel for the required posts, they said.

The official said that the KSRTC would have no problem in getting fleet for city bus service.

Bus stand

Sources said that the division would construct a new bus stand at B.C. Road. The Government had allotted the required land for a depot at Sullia. It had plans to construct a depot at Kukke Subrahmanya, they said.

Volvo buses

The division was planning to introduce new Volvo buses (routes) to Puttaparti, Mantralaya, and Hyderabad, sources said.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/19/stories/2009081958440300.htm)

http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/19/images/2009081958440301.jpg
NEW FACILITY: Construction of a KSRTC depot at Kunitkana in Mangalore is under way.

Agreement may soon be signed
Civic body is contemplating on drawing additional water from Lakhya dam in Kudremukh
Samiti says water supply woes of people will worsen with the implementation of pact


Read more here - The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/19/stories/2009081958530300.htm).

Waiting for the Ring road project to start. If they start this project Mangalore face is going to change completely. There will be a 100 ft six lane road with footpath both side & one side will be the river and the other side will have huge demand from property developers for their sea & river view apartments. Water sport & other activity will surly start. All the heavy vehicle entering the city fr NH17, N13, NH 48 can use this road and enter on particular entry point like bunder or new Mangalore port etc avoiding and congesting the interior roads . Hope this project will start soon.:banana:

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/7831/4lane.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/4lane.jpg/)

Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/epaper/PDFList.aspx?Pg=H&Edn=MN&DispDate=8/19/2009)

The fourlane work will start in December or January. Project to be completed in 36 months. The highway will be 20 meters wide. 220 hectres of land has to be acquired. In the second time bid, three companies - Navayug infrastructure (which was only company participated in first time bid), oriental engineerings, gyman india have participated. The stretch will have 14 bridges, 4 flyovers, 15 underpasses and more flyovers & service roads within city limits. 68% of Surathkal-BC Road work is complete. Goa-Kundapur foulane survey is going on.

I read today from vijay karnataka, which says work starts only 2011 january. This is because as per new rules of NHAI if 80% of land has been acquieed then only the work starts. as of now 10% notification has been raised (6 gram punchayyat out of 67). actual acquization has not yet started any where. so work will get over only 2014 if every thing goes right.

District Stadium Committee had decided on reinforcing the track again with cinder
Government is planning to provide a synthetic track for athletes at the stadium
Authorities told to provide sand-mixed soil, grass top for practising lane

MANGALORE: An expert on sports facilities has advised the District Stadium Committee here against reinforcing the track at the Mangala stadium with cinder or sand-mixed soil.

International technical officer of the Athletics Federation of India Rajuvelu visited the stadium on Friday to inspect the track and suggest measures to improve it at the request of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports.

The committee, headed by Deputy Commissioner V. Ponnuraj, had decided in a recent meeting to reinforce the track with cinder or soil.

Mr. Rajuvelu, also a qualified coach, said temporary patchwork and levelling of the track was enough as the Government was planning to provide the stadium with modern synthetic track.

He told The Hindu on Friday morning that the stadium committee might think of reinforcing the track with cinder or soil only if the execution of the Government’s plans was delayed. Otherwise it would be a wasteful expenditure, he said.

If the committee found it fit to reinforce the track, it might provide a layer of sand-mixed soil but not with cinder. Cinder was not easily available. Much of the cinder had been eroded by the rains and blown away by the winds during the monsoon.

Cinder tracks were no longer recommended by sports technicians. A layer of sand-mixed soil would be advisable only if the laying of synthetic track was expected to take time. The stadium officials could grow grass to enhance the comfort level for athletes, he said.

Mr. Rajuvelu pointed out that a majority of top-ranking athletes in the State were from Mangalore and surrounding areas and hence it was important to provide good facilities to them.

Assistant Director of the department M.C. Ramesh, Sunil Shetty, vice-president of Karnataka Athletics Association Anantharam, senior athletic coach of the Sports Authority of Karnataka and former athlete and stadium committee member Krishna Shenoy accompanied Mr. Rajuvelu to the stadium.

District athletic coach Vasanthkumar said that hard surface could lead to discomfort for athletes and they might complain of pain in their legs.


Sou: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/22/stories/2009082254800500.htm)

The annual celebration of Central Market Merchants’ Association was inaugurated by MLA N Yogesh Bhat on Sunday.

Speaking in the function minister Yogesh said that, proper measures will be taken to facilitate basic necessities such as drinking water, toilet etc.

Plans are being made to improve fishing market and flower market. A dialogue will be held with the police officials regarding initiation of action against unauthorized merchants’ and also said that survey is being carried out in Mannagudde-port-State Bank-Carstreet roads. In toto 22 small roads are being surveyed to broaden the roads.

The construction of ring road from Ullal bridge to Kuloor bridge under the deft hands of private company. It is proposed to start to Super Specialty Hospital. Discussions are held to implement safety fund scheme to unorganised employees.

K Shreedharan, President of Central Market Merchants’ Association presided over the programme.

Depuy Mayor Rajni Dugganna, K Revati Income Tax Standing Committee, Corporators such as Anil Kumar Attavar and Surekha Shrinivas were present as chief guests.

Advocate Kittur was honoured. Treasurer of Association Badruddin and General Secretary Hameed Kandak were present.


Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=685070&lang=1)

The shrine is said to have symbolic significance for Hindu-Muslim harmony in the region
Paddy fields around the temple are likely to be used for the 1.9-km bypass
Committees have suggested that a flyover can be constructed there

MANGALORE: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has allayed fears of the people of Mulky that its plans of laying a four-lane bypass there would harm the ancient Bappanadu Durgaparameshwari temple.

The temple has a special significance in so far as fostering communal harmony in Dakshina Kannada is concerned. This Hindu temple shares a special bond with Muslims as according to a legend Bappa Beary, a Muslim merchant, was responsible for its construction, along with a Jain, who was the then chieftain of Mukly. Even now, the annual fair at the temple begins with “prasadam” being offered to a Muslim family there. The family members are said to be the descendants of Bappa Beary.

According to Ramachandra Naik, secretary of the temple renovation committee, many Christians donated funds for its renovation two years ago.

Bypass

The NHAI has proposed to construct a 1.9-km-long bypass at Mulky as part of its project on upgrading the stretch of the National Highway 17 between Kundapur and Surathkal under the Phase III of the National Highways Development Project. The NHAI is in the process of finalising the contract for the project.

The temple managing committee and the renovation committee have been urging the NHAI to drop its the proposal to lay the bypass as the devotees would not be able to pull the chariots around the temple through a paddy field and it would not be possible to perform rituals in the temple during festivals. The paddy field would be used to lay the bypass. A few residents of Mulki have formed an action committee to fight against this. Mr. Naik said that their demand was that the NHAI could either widen the existing 1.75-km stretch on NH 17 at Mulky into a four-lane or construct a flyover along the stretch. The representatives of the two committees have held three meetings with the Deputy Commissioner to resolve this issue. In addition, they have placed their demands before the MPs, MLAs and others concerned.

Sources in NHAI told The Hindu that following the controversy, a team of NHAI officials, and representatives of the consulting agency, Wilber Smith Associates Pvt Ltd, which prepared a detailed project report (DPR) for the entire four-laning proposal, visited the temple site on July 19, 2007.

The team, which studied the four options of upgrading the highway in Mulky, favoured the original plan of laying the 1.9-km by in its report to the Government. The other three options considered by the team studied were: widening the existing 1.75-km stretch on the highway costing Rs. 33.32 crore; building a flyover along the 1.75-km stretch at a cost of Rs. 53.1 crore; and laying another 3.2 km bypass through the western side of the temple at a cost of Rs. 41.95 crore.

The report said that laying of a 1.9-km bypass (as per the original plan) would cost Rs. 23.71 crore. It will be designed to achieve 100-km speed an hour.

The report made it clear that as the NHAI would construct service roads on both sides of the bypass, chariot procession could be taken out from the temple to Koppala lake for performing special pujas there. Access to the temple was reassured as a median opening would be provided at the eastern entrance of the temple. “The alignment is designed in such a way that it does not affect any religious structures or activities. Lord Hanuman temple, Koppala lake, Devadiga community hall, naga banas, the place meant for serpent worshiping and the temple’s pond will not be affected,” the report said.

It concluded that if the existing 1.75-km stretch on the highway were to be modified, it had to be designed to achieve only 80-km speed an hour. It would also lead to serious safety problems. More number of multi-storeyed and pucca buildings would be affected.

“Considering all factors, the option of laying the 1.9-km bypass is recommended,” it said.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/23/stories/2009082358580300.htm)

MANGALORE, August 23, 2009: A concrete beam which measured 75 feet in height and weighed 34 tonnes today collapsed at the B.C. Road on the National Highway injuring four labourers working on the site. The beam collapsed when the contractors were erecting it against a temporary structure and filling concrete mixture.

According to the officials of NHAI (which is building the structure) four labourers were engaged in filling of the beam when an iron beam snapped and the structure came down with along with the labourers. They were hospitalised in Mangalore early morning on Sunday. They have been identified as Shameer, Mithun and Mohan.

One more who they refer as Bachchan was yet to be identified by his real name. He is supposed to have come from Bihar and used to be called as Bachchan as he used to enact scenes from Amitabh Bachchan films. They are stated to be out of danger and recovering.

This flyover had been due for completion for a long time, but due to the slow progress of work the flyover is still half built and is hindering the traffic and posing danger to the people who move underneath. According to the work schedule the fly over should have been opened for traffic sometime in January. The officials confirmed that it was overdue by six months.


Source: Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=141922)

Weekender
John Players
Lee
Levis
Spykar Jeans
Basics & Genesis
Oxemberg
Crocodile
Wrangler
Flying Machine & Excaliber
S.F. Jeans (M.G.)
Identiti
Mustache
Provogue
Koutons
GKB Tata Westside
Titan
Lush
Nike
Carbon Jewelry
Cookie Man
Puma
Kalmane Koffees
Cat Walk
Swarovski
United Colour of Benetton
Planet Fashion (M.G.)
Joy Alukkas Jewelery
Bossini
Archies
Just in Vouge
Adidas
Jan sport
Kippling
Shoppers Stop
McDonald’s
Rado
Tissot
Storm
Allen Solly
Alukkas Diamonds
Wills Life Style
Shoe Tree
Jockey
Metro Shoes
Navigator
Reid & Taylor
Arrow
Turtle
Van Heusen
Kittens
Biba Apparels
109-F
Wellspun
Fab India
Odyssey
Pixetra
Jashn
AND (Women Apparel)
Camichael House
Mustard
Weekender Kids / Toon World
Lilliput
W
Showoff
Change
Rafees
Soles
Live-in
Hallmark cards
Fotolite
Odyssey Coffee Day
Subway
Aquarium (Atlas)
Fun Cinema (Multiplex)
Time Zone
Hyper Market


Hotel Sujatha has now been demolished thus paving the way for foulaning of remaining portions of KS Rao Road.

^^ Whew, thats some list!
KS Rao Road will be hosting a completely new look now!

Leader of the Opposition in the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) council Harinath has alleged that the civic body is not serious enough in completing concreting of many roads here at the earliest.

Addressing presspersons here on Monday, he said the Opposition members would stage a dharna in the council meeting on Monday next, to bring pressure upon the Mayor to ensure quicker work on the projects.

Mr. Harinath said that due to slow progress in concreting of roads, many people were facing problems. While many roads were being concreted on one side, the other sides were in poor shape. Hence, traffic could not move fast. Concreting works were resulting in frequent traffic jams, he added.

He alleged that work on the stretch between Kavoor and Marakada on the Mangalore-Bajpe Road (airport road) was going on too slowly. Likewise, the civic body had not completed the work on the stretch between Lower Bendoorwell Circle and Horticulture Junction, and between Kuntikana and KSRTC Junction.


Read more in The Hindu (http://beta.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/article8206.ece).

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Very interesting. really enjoyed it.

Ajay this is a very good news hotel sujatha is demolished. hope they will start the four lane work soon till PVS junction.Its very narrow near SCDCC bank,it can't be four lane for about 50 mts. will wait and see.

Tourism department Director Vishwanath Reddy said that Rs 40 lakh will be released immediately for the proposed ropeway bridge from Sulthan Batthery to Bengre.

Speaking at a meeting held under the presidentship of Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation (KSIIDC) Chairman Yogish Bhat, he said the proposed project is worth Rs 5 crore. In the first phase of the project, Rs 40 lakh will be released immediately.

It was decided to earmark 150 acre land for the proposed marine aquarium and a golf court at Thannirbhavi. It was decided to implement the project on PPP model and invite for tender within next four months. The meet also discussed on the development of Kadri park.

For the promotion of tourism, grants have been released to the district. They include Rs 51,03,885 for the development of Panambur beach; Rs 22.42 lakh for the development of Thannirbhavi beach, Rs 22.42 lakh for the development of Panambur beach and landscaping and other works; Rs 22.42 lakh for the development of Ullal beach; Rs 20 lakh for the development of Karinjeshwara kshethra in Bantwal; Rs 10 lakh to provide facilities at Kateel Durgaparameshwari Temple; Rs 23.50 lakh for the helipad at Dharmasthala; Rs 4 lakh for the development of Kadalakere Pakshidhama in Moodbidri; Rs 4 lakh to provide basic facilities at Jamalabad fort. The meet was attended by Coastal Development Authority Chairman Nagaraj Shetty, KSIIDC President Muniyappa and Deputy Commissioner V Ponnuraj among others.


Source: DHNS (http://www.deccanherald.com/content/21326/rs-40-lakh-ropeway-bridge.html)

Hi From the Philippine thread. nice developments.i Am the only Asian forumer here?

dc88, welcome to Mangalore SSC thread. I think there are many Philippine students studying in Mangalore/Manipal. Have you visited Mangalore?

The Mangalore City Corporation began preliminary work to upgrade the stretch between Father Muller Hospital and Morgans’ Gate to a two-lane concrete road.

At an estimated cost of Rs. 5 crore, concrete would be laid on the 2.5 km stretch which passes through Valencia and Marnamikatta. The Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada district, J. Krishna Palemar, inaugurated the project near the hospital on Tuesday.

Speaking to The Hindu on the occasion, Mayor M. Shankar Bhat said that the two-lane road will be 7.5 metre in width. The civic body chose not make it a four-lane road to save huge trees in Valencia area.

According to Ganeshan, Assistant Executive Engineer of the corporation, a private contractor who will be awarded the work will have to complete the road in six months from Tuesday.

Market complex

The Minister also laid the foundation stone for construction of a market complex at Bejai on Tuesday. Karnataka Land Army Corporation Limited (KLACL), a State Government undertaking, will build it at an estimated cost of Rs. 3 crore.

The Mayor said that the complex will have a basement, lower ground floor, upper ground floor (mezzanine floor), first, second and third floors. In the first phase, the KLACL will construct only the basement and lower ground floor within one year. The civic body will release Rs. 1 crore for the purpose. Other floors will be constructed later in a phased manner.

Mr. Bhat said that the basement will have 8,000 sq. ft. floor area. It will be used for parking of vehicles. The lower ground floor will have provision for 12 shops, five vegetable stalls, three fruit stalls and two flower stalls.


Source: The Hindu (http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article8843.ece)

Falinr Road concretization work is going on @Kankanady side.

Draft regulations await Government approval since 2007
Civic body is still following MUDA’s zonal rules prepared in 1992
Corporation told to have a fire safety officer

MANGALORE: Although Mangalore is touted to be the fastest growing city after Bangalore, its city corporation is still working on having its own building bylaws.

The corporation’s criteria for issuing licenses for constructing buildings and completion certificates are based on the guidelines mentioned in the zonal regulations of the Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

The MUDA prepared the zonal regulations according to its comprehensive development plan, which is now called the master plan, prepared in 1992 for ten years.

“Although the validity of the plan has expired, the corporation is still following the zonal regulation guidelines prepared by MUDA as the Government is yet to approve its new master plan,” town planning officer at the corporation Balakrishna Gowda told The Hindu.

The corporation was following the old guidelines, in accordance with the powers conferred on it under the provisions of Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961, he said.

The corporation prepared the draft of building bylaws in 2007. But, as the new master plan of MUDA had not been approved, the Government had asked the corporation to wait till the master plan was approved.

The Government had asked the corporation to make necessary amendments in its draft bylaws after MUDA’s master plan was approved. Hence the corporation would have to send its bylaws again to the Government for approval after making necessary amendments, Mr. Gowda said.

Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada J. Krishna Palemar told The Hindu that the new master plan of the MUDA would be finalised at a meeting in Bangalore on Wednesday.

He said that he would also be attending it.

Justifying the Government’s decision of withholding the corporation’s draft building bylaws Mr. Palemar said that there should not be any contradictions in the guidelines of the corporations building bylaws and the new master plan of the MUDA.

If both the guidelines do not go together, people would face problems he said and added that the corporation should incorporate the amendments in its draft bylaws wherever necessary.

The Section 295 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976 does suggest that the corporations should have building bylaws. It states: “With the approval of the Government the corporation may make bylaws… with provision of means of egress (exit) in case of fire…”

Fire safety

Mr. Gowda said that since 2005, the civic body was demanding two certificates from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services for issuing licenses for construction of high-rise buildings and completion certificates. Builders, who took up construction of buildings with four or more number of floors would have to produce “no objection certificates” from the department for obtaining license for construction from the corporation.

Once a building was completed, its builders had to produce another “no objection certificate” from the department to secure completion certificate from the civic body, he said.

‘Deemed safe’

Mr. Gowda said that once the department issued the second “no objection certificate” the corporation would deem that all norms pertaining to fire safety had been adhered to by the builders.

No checking

“We do not make any periodical checking to ensure if those buildings have been maintaining fire safety measures,” he said and added that it was better if the civic body had a fire safety officer, which the corporation was lacking now.

Referring to the fire in a high-rise building near Ambedkar Circle recently he said that the building was constructed in 1994-95.


Source: The Hindu (MANGALORE: Although Mangalore is touted to be the fastest growing city after Bangalore, its city corporation is still working on having its own building bylaws.)

http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/26/images/2009082660310301.jpg
UNSAFE: Although the number of high-rise structures in Mangalore is increasing by the day, none of them are following the regulations governing the construction.

Many structures have come up without approval from the fire department
Deputy Commissioner’s direction on penalising violators of rules yet to be implemented
Fire department has rejected 38 of the 73 applications filed for no objection certificate

MANGALORE: The nine-storey “Roy Constructions” residential apartment on Vyasarao Road in Kadri is the only building in the entire city to have got a Clearance Certificate from the Fire and Emergency Services Department.

Making this shocking revelation to The Hindu on Tuesday Chief Fire Officer H.S. Varadarajan said that lack of fire safeguards in high-rise buildings was “alarming” and could have serious consequences in the event of an accident.

Mr. Varadarajan’s statements assume significance in the light of a major fire that broke out in the “Trade Centre” building on the Bunts Hostel-Jyothi Circle Road here on July 12.

The Clearance Certificate is given to a building only after it is fully constructed. And, the building can get an Occupancy Certificate – a document to be obtained from the civic body - only after it receives this clearance from the Fire Department. The question that begs to be asked then is, how did all the buildings in Mangalore get occupied? Do they have Occupancy Certificates? Or, did they occupy the buildings without even having an Occupancy Certificate?

DC’s letter

A letter written by the Deputy Commissioner to the Urban Development Department on July 3, 2008 throws partial light on the subject of Occupancy Certificates. In his letter, which was based on a random survey of 17 high-rise buildings in the city, the Deputy Commissioner observes that most of these buildings do not have occupancy certificates – indicating that they did not have clearances from the Fire Department either.

He goes on to recommend that as a punitive measure, the city corporation should “impose fines of up to five to 10 times the existing tariff for water and power” on the owners of these buildings. But, this recommendation has not been implemented.

The Deputy Commissioner makes another significant observation that Occupancy Certificates have been issued to these buildings despite the fact that they have “flouted building bylaws and fire safety regulations”. These buildings had been given Occupancy Certificates without having the Clearance Certificate from the Fire and Emergency Services Department. Mr. Varadarajan said that of the 73 applications for “No Objection Certificate (NOC)” received by his department from big builders, 38 had been rejected. These NOCs are given after verifying the blueprints of the projects and as per the rules, builders cannot start construction before obtaining these NOCs for their project proposals.

However, he admitted that several of these builders, whose plans had been rejected, had gone on to start their constructions. Sources in his department said that many builders used to apply for NOCs well after finishing the construction of their buildings.

Vidya Dinker, an activist from the Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development, said that her organisation had been battling the real-estate mafia behind these violations with limited success since 2004. Tracing the timeline of this battle she said that in 2004 her organisation had appealed to the then Deputy Commissioner, Mangalore Urban Development Authority, and the commissioner of city corporation. When that did not work, the forum approached the Urban Development Department, the Department of Municipal Administration, and the then Chief Minister D. Dharam Singh. Mr. Singh told the local authorities that Mangalore could not be exempted from the National Building Code. But, in October 2005, the city corporation, allegedly with the encouragement of local MLAs, cutting across party lines, mooted a resolution that the builders of the city need not follow safety guidelines.

This resolution was struck down by the Chief Secretary on 19 December, 2005. Ms. Dinker said: “But a few months later, we got specific information that the builders were trying to buy their way out and secure a one-time exemption. That is when in February 2006 we filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court.”


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/26/stories/2009082660310300.htm)

Recently I had been to Mangalore for Ganesh festival. I wanted to take snaps of all the concrete roads and high-rise buildings. But could not due to heavy rain and restriction order in place due to communal violence. But I would like to give some summary of what I saw.

The road concrete work is going on with full swing and Quality of the concrete road are very good. But the tar roads conditions are not good.

1. On fulnir road the concrete work has already started from kankanaday church circle to platinum theater. The drainage work has been completed at that stretch. Also one side thick base concrete has been put (more than one and half feet thick).
2. Surrounding Nehru maiden circle concrete has been completed at following places
1. from tower clock to A.B Shetty circle
2. State bank circle to Rao and Rao circle
3. Rao and Rao circle to tower clock circle.
The concrete work is going on from A.B Shetty circle to state bank. If this is completed the circle is up. Some places foot path work is going on.
3. Found driving from Rao and Rao circle to pump well via tower clock-lighthouse hill- Jothi- collector gate-bendoor- kankanady circle was smooth despite heavy rain, this is only due to concrete road.
4. But small stretch in bendoor (opposite to royal durbar hotel) which is tarred road has gone bad due to some water pipe seepage problem.
5. Kankanady circle to pump well double road looks good now. But not as expected Quality. Some place pits and hole have started appearing and tarred road floor finish is not good.
4. Bendoor to St. Agnes school and Shiva bag (near canara club) concrete work is going on with full swing.
5. On K.S Rao road half the stretch has been concretized from signal light to Prabhath. But the approach roads like P.M Rao road, sharavu temple road junction are in bad shape due to height of concrete road to this road. One side of K.S Rao road has been dug up for drain work.
6. Some work seen at Mischief mall. But no occupancy yet
7. The Bank in front of City center mall has been demolished and now it looks really huge. Its basement parking work is going on. The front look has been completed.
8. Ornet mall on Navabharath junction has been completed. It looks good but no
Occupancy seen.
9. Bharath mall is attracting lot of people dailly. Currently it has retained the monopoly
Status in mall space of Mangalore.
10. stretch from PVS junction to kottar chowki via ballal bag - Lal bag - urva was smooth drive due to concrete road through out.
11. Polytechnic college to kavoor via yeyyadi-merihill-konchadi-padvinangadi is smooth drive to completion of concrete road.
12. Lot of golden Jewellary brands has entered Mangalore market. This has changed the regular buying pattern of people. But other wise people used to go to Achari (gold smith) and used to make the required Jewellary. I visited few of them and enjoyed their service. Main are
1. Abharana
2. Swarna
3. Allukas
4. Malabar gold
5. Chimmanoor
6. Gold Palace

thanx for the updates man.......:) hope the roads are looking neat and clean with no mud/dirt strewn over.....

Wednesday, August 26, 2009 12:14:10 PM (IST)
Mangalore: City Corporation drafting Blue Print for JNNURM Implementation - Palemar

Mangalore, Aug 26: Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister J Krishna Palemar said that the City Corporation here, has been asked to prepare a blue print for implementing the Rs 2000 crore development plan for the city under the Jawaharalal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission(JNNURM). He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the two-lane concreting of the road between Kankanady and Morgans Gate in the city on Tuesday August 25.

Palemar added that the state government has hand-picked the city for the implementation of this scheme and the blue print that the City Corporation will prepare, would then be approved by the union government.

Palemar noted that the people of the city are unhappy about the inordinate delays caused in the completion of various roads taken up for concreting. "Contractor Ram Kamat has promised to complete this road, which connects the National Highway and other rural belts, within six months. The people have to keep a watch on the quality of the road works," he said.

City mayor Shankar Bhat, standing committee chairman Vijay Kumar Shetty, corporators, commissioner Dr Vijay Shankar, Father Muller Medical College Hospital dean Dr Sanjeev Rai and administrator Fr Dennis D'Sa were present.

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=64706&n_tit=Mangalore%3A+City+Corporation+drafting+Blue+Print+for+JNNURM+Implementation+-+Palemar

IT Services Company Ranks No. 2 in Kentucky and No. 130 in United States

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- GlowTouch Technologies, a Louisville, KY-based IT services company, was recently listed as the second fastest-growing private company in Kentucky and the 130th fastest in the nation by Inc. magazine. The magazine also awarded GlowTouch "Top 10 Indian-Run Companies" and "Top 10 IT Services."

"If you want to know which companies are going to change the world, look at the Inc. 500," said Inc. editor Jane Berentson. "These are the most dynamic, fast-growth companies in the nation, the ones finding innovative solutions to problems, creating smart systems, and inventing products we soon discover we can't live without. The Inc. 500 list is Inc. magazine's tribute to American business ingenuity and ambition."

Founded in 2004, GlowTouch has grown 1,350.2% over the last three years by providing IT outsourcing services to businesses across the nation. The company's core service lines include web design, business intelligence, and technical support. Critical to GlowTouch's success has been their ability to attract and manage high quality offshore technical resources combined with US-based onsite architects and managers. GlowTouch's growth has recently allowed the company to open a third office in Nashville, TN and to complete construction of a state-of-art, 60,000 square foot development campus in Mangalore, India.

"We are honored to be featured on the Inc. 500 list," said Vidya Ravichandran, GlowTouch's President. "For a company that started with very humble beginnings and has continued to grow in tough economic times, this recognition means a lot to us."

About GlowTouch Technologies

GlowTouch is a well diversified technology resource company with offices in Louisville, KY, Nashville, TN, Palo Alto, CA, and a development center in Mangalore, India. The firm provides turnkey IT outsourcing solutions to small, medium, and enterprise-sized companies nationwide. For more information, visit www.glowtouch.com.


Source: prnewswire (http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-26-2009/0005083364&EDATE=)

Currently Glow Touch is located in Empire Mall, M G Road.

Ajay, Sujatha Hotel is not yet demolished. Inspite of 30 years long struggle to demolish it is still standing there firmly.

May be I got the wrong information.one of my friends who is here gave me the news on Sunday.Sorry!

•Seven levels of retail shopping space with a huge central atrium.
•5 screen multiplex with an exclusive food court, dine-in restaurants and an entertainment centre in the fourth floor.
•One whole floor designed and earmarked for a hypermarket with a travellators and escalators connecting the hypermarket level to the car parking floor above.
•25 Escalators provided in the mall (18 Escalators in common area & 7 Escalators within anchor stores)
•8 Nos. 16 passenger automatic lifts connecting all the floors.
•5 Nos. Service lifts provided for the movement of materials (2 Service lifts for common use & 3 service lifts for hypermarket)
•Ample car parking space and two wheeler parking provided in five levels of the mall.
•Large open space in the ground floor for mall promotional activities.
•External facade with glass and ACP cladding and state-of-the-art textures.
•Centralized air conditioning for the mall by providing energy efficient water cooled chilled water central plant.
•Total electrical power supply backup facility for the entire mall with automatic start diesel generators.
•Automatic Fire Detection and Protection Systems for the entire mall.
•Channel music system and public address system provided in the mall.
•Reliable mall security provided by recordable CCTV cameras at strategic locations of the common areas of the mall.
•Computerized automatic tenant building system for power consumption for all the tenants of the mall.
•Flooring comprising of granite, marble and polished vitrified tiles in the common areas.
•Stainless steel with toughened glass railing and ACP cladded pillars in the atrium.
•Automatic sliding glass doors at entry and exit points.
•Help desk and security at the entry/exit points in the ground and upper ground levels.
•Advertising panels at strategic locations.
•Separate toilet blocks for ladies and gents on all the floors.
•Rain water harvesting techniques and system incorporated.
•Sewerage treatment plant for the mall
•Loading and unloading bay provided near the service lifts.



IT MENTIONS OF PARKING IN 5 FLOORS OF THE MALL?

BANGALORE, INDIA--August 27, 2009--Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (BSE:500109) (MRPL) (Mangalore, Karnataka), a fully owned subsidiary of Indian energy major Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (BSE:500312) (ONGC) (Dehradun, Uttarakhand), has proposed a polypropylene plant with a capacity of 440,000 tons per year. The $371.9 million plant will be integrated with the phase-III expansion of the refinery complex, which is under construction at Mangalore. The polypropylene plant is expected to be a valuable addition to the refinery complex, as it will produce polypropylene from polymer-grade propylene. The petrochem-fluidized catalytic cracking unit (PFCCU), which is under development as part of the phase-III construction, will supply polymer-grade propylene feed. About 450,000 tons per year of propylene will be required as input for the polypropylene unit.


Source: INDUSTRIALINFO.COM (http://www.industrialinfo.com/showAbstract.jsp?newsitemID=149618)

In sync with its aggressive expansion plans, Vision Express, 50-50 Joint Venture between Reliance Retail and Pearle Europe, has reached the first important milestone - the opening of the 25th Vision Express showroom in the country, all within 9 months from the launch of its first outlet. The opening of this store makes Vision Express one of the fastest growing eyewear retail chains in India and the brand will continue to expand its retail network across the country in the coming months.

The new store located at Ground Floor, Essel Centre,(next to Hotel Deepa Comforts), MG road, Mangalore like all other Vision Express outlets will offer a wide variety of fashionable and trendy optical products at affordable prices.

Speaking on the achievement, Guillame Brouwet, CEO, Vision Express, said, “In line with our scheduled expansion plans, we have crossed the milestone of 25 stores with the opening of the 1st Vision Express outlet in Mangalore. Within a very short period of time – less than 9 months to be precise – we have achieved this magical number and we intend to continue the aggressive retail roll out with an aim to have 70 stores by the end of the current fiscal. Besides increasing our network size, we are continuously working towards launching new product collections, and introducing the best contemporary designs and styles that match international trends and quality.”

Having embarked on the retail journey in December 2008, Vision Express has been changing the landscape of the eyewear retail industry in India by opening world-class optical stores across more than 7 locations currently. Within a short period of time, the company has established a sizeable geographic presence and introduced unique services, stylish products and exacting quality standards, unparalleled in India’s eyewear industry.

Key benefits offered by Vision Express to consumers include 1-hour express service for spectacles with single vision standard lenses, free eye tests conducted by highly qualified eye care specialists at the store and other services like free cleaning of glasses and repairs for all customers. Its strategic association with L V Prasad Eye Institute, a world class eye institute ensures all Vision Express staff undergo rigorous training in eye care and thereby offer excellent customer service.

Vision Express guarantees 100% satisfaction on all purchases and after sales services at the store. The wide collection with the benefits of proven optical skills, trust, affordability, quality, international designs, one year warranty and a lifetime free service will provide shoppers a unique shopping experience.


Source: indiaPRwire (http://www.indiaprwire.com/pressrelease/retail/2009082832514.htm)

MUDA to call fresh tenders for its 3 ambitious projects
Sibanthi Padmanabha K V, Mangalore, DH News Service:

Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) has decided to call fresh tenders for its three ambitious projects including the Rs 32 crore multi-storied car parking-cum-commercial complex proposed to be constructed at the old bus stand at Hampankatta.


The other two projects are the proposed commercial complexes at Urva Stores and Urva Market. The MUDA is going to call fresh tenders since no qualified agencies have shown interest in bidding in response to the previous tenders. This has been termed as a recession effect. “Though one agency came forward to take up the tender of the Hampankatta car parking-cum-commercial complex project, it did not qualify in the technical bid. There were no responses at all for the other two projects,” MUDA Commissioner P G Ramesh told Deccan Herald.

The Authority had invited national bids for the proposed projects on January 9, 2009, and the interested agencies could apply within the next two months. The three projects had been envisaged in two packages, i.e., the Rs 32 crore-Hampankatta complex in the first package and Rs 15 core-Urva Stores complex and Rs 10 crore-Urva Market complex in the second package.

The complex at Urva Stores will come up at an area of 0.88 acre, while the other one at Urva Market will come up at an area of 0.68 acre. Bangalore-based Infrastructure Development Corporation of Karnataka (IDECK) is the consultant for the MUDA.

Additional land sought

Ramesh said the MUDA has written to the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) requesting it to acquire 0.45 acre additional land near Hampankatta old bus stand for the car parking-cum-commercial complex.

“If the land is acquired from the buildings constructed in L shape (Light House Hill Road and K S Rao Road), we can get a total of 2 acre land. Now, the existing plan for the complex (1.52 acre area) need to be changed and hence fresh tender for this project will take some more time,” he explained.

As per the proposed plan, the car parking complex would accommodate over 300 cars. However, if the Authority is able to get an additional 0.45 acre at the old bus stand, the project and its capacity will also get enlarged. All the three projects are coming up on public-private partnership. The complexes will be assigned to the private agencies on a 30 year-lease and the revenue will be shared by the MUDA and the MCC on 50:50 basis.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/22152/muda-call-fresh-tenders-its.html

The stretch was repaired in 2007-08
The road may be closed for six months

http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/29/images/2009082960741401.jpg
Substandard work? In spite of the repair works undertaken on the stretch in Shiradi Ghat in 2007-08 at a cost of Rs. 22 crore, the road remains badly damaged.

BANGALORE: Commuters on the Bangalore-Mangalore NH-48 can heave a sigh of relief as the Union Government has approved Rs. 115.40 crore for repairing nearly 30-km stretch of Shiradi Ghat road, which is now in bad shape.

With large craters forming the 26-km stretch of road in the ghat section, most vehicles are now taking the road via Mysore and Madikeri to reach Mangalore from Bangalore.

The Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways has given technical approval to the works.

While the stretch between km 237 and 250 is estimated to cost Rs. 57.66 crore, the stretch between km 250 and 263 is estimated to cost Rs. 57.74 crore, taking the total to Rs. 115.40 crore.

Though repair works had been undertaken on this stretch in 2007-08 at a cost of about Rs. 22 crore, the road had been badly damaged due to inadequate drainage, overflow of rainwater on the carriageway and plying of overloaded iron ore lorries and heavy gas tankers. A CBI inquiry has been ordered by the High Court in view of early damages to the road, despite substantial amount spent.

Since the participation of agencies for works to be taken up at Shiradi Ghat has been poor in the past, the repair work on the stretch is being made into two parts and the estimates had been prepared accordingly, sources in Public Works Department told The Hindu. Preparation of two estimates and inviting tenders would also ensure that the work on the entire stretch could be completed in one season, sources said.

Shiradi Ghat could be closed for about six months from November 2009 when the works would be commenced.

The Public Works Department has opined that the traffic should be totally closed before the commencement of the work so that different components could be taken simultaneously as the working season available in Shiradi Ghat is only six months from second week of November to second week of May.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/29/stories/2009082960741400.htm)

http://mangalorean.com/images/newstemp22/20090828train24.jpg

"Stop dreaming of a day train and start your journey on a day train" this was the message given by Mr. Veerappa Moily Union minister for Law and Justice here today while inaugurating the new day train to Bangalore from Mangalore.

The air at the railway station was festive, tastefully decorated train gave a long honk sporting the Mangalore-Yeshwanthpur planks on the front of the engine as well as either sides of the bogies before leaving the Mangalore central station today exactly at 8.50am.


Source: Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=142942)


MANGALORE: Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa said here on Friday that operating the tri-weekly Mangalore-Yeshwantpur day-train daily would take at least six months. This was because the Railways would have to lay four more tracks at Siribagilu Station between Sakaleshpur and Mangalore for halting the trains there.

Addressing presspersons ahead of launching the day-train service from here to Yeshwantpur on Saturday, the Minister said that as goods trains were operating between Mangalore and Sakaleshpur, provision had to be made for stationing them at Siribagilu on the Shiradi Ghat section in case of emergency or whenever needed. Laying of tracks at the station would take at least six months. Day-train could be operated daily only later, he said.

The Minister said that the doubling of the track between Shoranoor (Kerala) and Mangalore would be completed by March 2010. Officials concerned had assured him that the railway bridge across the Netravati on Shoranoor-Mangalore stretch would also be completed by that time.

Mr. Muniyappa said that he would convene a meeting in Bangalore in third or fourth week of September to discuss about railway over bridge (RoB) and railway under bridges (RuB) to be taken up in Karnataka.

Asked if Railways was considering carving out Mangalore (now under Southern Railway) as a separate division under the South Western Railway (SWR) or bringing Mangalore under the jurisdiction of SWR without making it a division, the Minister said: “Development will take place on its own course.” To another question regarding the extension of the night-train between Yashwantpur and Mangalore up to Kannur (Kerala), Mr. Muniyappa said that train services were for “national integrity”. The Minister said that the Railways would take up seven new projects of laying new tracks in the State, in association with the State Government. The ratio of sharing funds for them would differ. The State was among the few other States in the country which had agreed to share its fund with the Railways for laying new lines, he said.

B.P. Tayal, Director (Operations and Commercial), Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd, said that a new station would be set up at Nandikoor in Udupi district. The station at Byndoor in Udupi district would be upgraded with financial help from the Stage Government.

The State had come forward to sanction Rs. 16 crore for upgrading the station, he said.


Source: Bellvision (http://www.bellevision.com/newshead.asp?nhid=5053)

Earlier news:

Mangalore-Shoranur work to be completed in March 2010 - Muniyappa


Mangalore, August 28, 2009: Union Minister of state for Railways Mr. K.H. Muniyappa has assured that the Mangalore Bangalore day train will run on all days as against the present thrice a week. This will happen once the various traffic hurdles like Crossing, and Passing will be cleared by the Railway engineering division and certified by the Railway Safety Commisssionerate. Addressing a press conference here today Mr. Muniyappa said that this work was expected to be completed by next six months after which the day train will run seven times a week both ways.

Mr. Muniyappa also appealed to the people of Mangalore not to oppose the extension of Bangalore-Mangalore train upto Kannur in Kerala. He pointed out that "We must understand that the Railway as an all India facility and it is not advisable to restrict the organisation with regional considerations.

He said he will work proactively for the development of railway infrastructure in Karnataka, in fact his ministry has already signed a MoU with the state government for a joint investment of Rs. 2851 crores for seven different railway projects in the state. The central government will provide Rs. 1116 crores while the state government will provide Rs. 1736 crore.

Mr. Muniyappa also said "It was highly inappropriate to say the state did not get its due in matters of railway infrastructure and expansion. These seven projects have been planned to happen within the geographical boundaries of Karnataka".

He said the Mangalore-Shoranur doubling work will be completed by March 2010 which will facilitate faster movement of trains between Mangalore and Kerala and as a bonus the interstate superfast trains running between Kerala and other northern centres of India will become faster, making Mangalore a hub of railway development.


Source: Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=142890)

hi
i got 15 cents land in heart of manipal for developing.i got offer from KMC manipal for purchase,but we not interested in selling.anybody interested in developing this site,plz contact me at srraj2001@gmail.com..after discussion will exchange the cell number for contact...ct srraj2001@gmail.com

regards
raviraj

hi ajay
i will sending u some photos of City center,mischief mall and four square mall please update it in SSC. thank u

hi ajay
i will sending u some photos of City center,mischief mall and four square mall please update it in SSC. thank u

Thanks

I have forwarded it to Moorthy.

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/4104/dsc01540e.jpg (http://img42.imageshack.us/i/dsc01540e.jpg/)
Copywright: pacchu2006

I am confused between Time Square Mall & Four Square Mall. Please confirm this is Four Square Mall U/C in Kadri Market.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7631/dsc01541i.jpg (http://img145.imageshack.us/i/dsc01541i.jpg/)

Copywright: pacchu2006

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/3663/dsc01542n.jpg (http://img86.imageshack.us/i/dsc01542n.jpg/)

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/2705/dsc01543m.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/i/dsc01543m.jpg/)

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/1527/dsc01544dyd.jpg (http://img145.imageshack.us/i/dsc01544dyd.jpg/)

Copywright: pacchu2006

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/7359/dsc01545e.jpg (http://img42.imageshack.us/i/dsc01545e.jpg/)

Copywright: pacchu2006

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/9832/landlinks.jpg (http://img75.imageshack.us/i/landlinks.jpg/)

Courtesy: Udayavani

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MANGALORE, August 31, 2009: This city got its share of infrastructure development after a long fight, some of the projects it got was the National Highway four-laning and four other fly-overs. But they are now delayed far beyond their expected time of completion which is causing concern for the motorists- the delay has caused not less than fifteen bottlenecks in as many places all along the highway.

The four lane highway project that started sometime in 2004 had to be completed in 30 months, but it has now taken over 60 months and it looks like it will take not less than twelve more months to complete, if it goes in the same pace.

The 38 kilometers highway widening project between Mukka and B.C.Road is now partially completed; according to Sources in the National Highway Authority of India only 66 percent of the project has been completed there are connectivity issues which needs to be addressed and there are five bottlenecks that have to be cleared. The first one is near the NITK English medium school, further near the Surathkal Police Station, third one near the ascending ramp of the first fly over, next at the intersection of Kulur Bridge and another at Bangra Kulur and one more near A.J. Hospital at Kuntikana.

But the motorists point out that all the way through Kunitkana to B.C. Road there are ten more bottlenecks which are on the National Highway 48, and are more grievous in nature and cause major accidents if not corrected. The elevated highway at Brahmarakootlu is still a danger place as the lining of the bund has not been done, as a result the soil erosion on this stretch is still uncontrollable during the rainy season and the road gets eroded from time to time.

The major problem on this stretch is the pending work on the fly-overs. There are four fly overs on the stretch. The first one at Surathkal is facing a number of problem the pilings are ready the beams and the span are ready but the ramps are not. The NHAI is finding the location of the ramp not coinciding with the contouring of the road, to get the perfection alignment the ramp will have to be re-aligned with the road.

At Kuntikana the fly over is ready and the vehicles are already plying on it. But on both sides the carriageway has been badly damaged and those who wanted to turn towards Bejai and towards Konchady will find it difficult to traverse either way.

At Kottara, the fly over is just 50 per cent ready. The ramps are not in place and it might take not less than a year to complete this fly over. As a result the traffic is a mess at this junction. This is where the traffic from the NH 17 from Udupi enters the city. According to a traffic survey, the Kottara junction and the Surathkal-MRPL road junction are the most critically populated traffic intersections. Each of them gets not less that 70,000 to 80,000 passenger car units every day. (Each 50 seater bus is equivalent to 8 passenger car unit).

The fly over in B.C. road is mired in controversy; This was the first fly over to be begun when the new national highway project began. The B.C.Road is town that has grown up around the highway which is the biggest problem the NHAI faces. It was not supposed to have been like this. In accordance with the National Highway act no human habitation, business centres or township should come around the National Highway, but due to many loop holes in the procedures they have come up and there is no denying that.

The MP of Mangalore Mr. Nalin Kumar Kateel has recently had a meeting with the officials of NHAI and the Deputy Commissioner of Mangalore which has decided to review the work progress on this stretch every three weeks which comes as boost to the pace of the project.


Source: Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=143193)

Also read Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=689775&lang=1) for more.

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Mangalore, August 31: Citizens came together to protest the demolishing of trees as a part of concretization of the road between Kankanady Father Mullers circle to Morgansgate which has already initiated on Sunday.

Activists from Citizen Forum, Roshini Nilaya and other various unions were gathered to hold the protest and at right time D C Ponnuraj was present at the place.

Trees should not be demolished. Concretization could be done without demolishing the trees, public appealed with the D C.

The D.C gave the assurance of carrying out the work without being demolition of trees.


Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=689934&lang=1)

As reported in 1405 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=41840538&postcount=1405) already the road will be 7.5 meters two lane road and no tree will be demolished?

Good shots of the Malls!
City Center really looks colossal from that angle! And love the shot of the NH 17 as well. :)

For four-lane, 43 trees marked
Stanley G Pinto, TNN 31 August 2009, 10:14pm IST
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MANGALORE: They have been marked for death! The distemper mark on these magnificent trees, 43 of them, on the 2.5 km stretch from Fr Muller
Hospital till Nandigudda, is an official indicator that they have outlived their utility as far as the city corporation is concerned.

This has not gone down well with eco-conscious public, who are enraged at the dictatorial attitude of the corporation and planning authorities. So far, in the name of development, more than 200 trees have been felled though many of them could have been saved with small corrections in road geometry.

Deputy conservator of forests (DCF) Vijay Kumar rues this development. He told TOI that city planners don't take the forest department into confidence during planning and during the execution stage put pressure to get things done. Kumar is firm that he will not allow unnecessary felling of trees. "If there is no other way, we allow felling but with an undertaking by the corporation that three saplings will be planted and taken care of for each tree felled. Or they have give us the money and we'll do the job," he said.

But his own experience is a grim reminder of how promises are never kept. The seven trees in front of Saibeen Complex were felled after much haggling with the forest department. But till date not even a single sapling has been planted. "They have not left space for the saplings. Taking action against another government department becomes a bit problematic," Kumar adds.

The corporation has understood the forest department's Achilles heel. They plan without taking the department into confidence. "Finally, they brand us anti-development. Development has to take place, but not like this," Kumar notes.

On Monday, mayor Shankar Bhat asserted there was no proposal for a four-lane so trees won't be cut. Commissioner K N Vijay Prakash also echoed similar views saying that they have been marked as the design and estimate process requires this exercise.

Citizens Forum Mangalore Development is not ready to buy this line of argument. They say this is an eyewash as they had approached the deputy commissioner on Sunday. "This is a ploy to give us a false sense of relief and cut them (trees) when we expect it the least," said a member.

The forum has organized a meet on Tuesday to elicit the public's views on this topic at Roshni Nilaya at 5.30 pm.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/mangalore/For-four-lane-43-trees-marked/articleshow/4956024.cms

Court serves notice on corporation (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/01/stories/2009090158880300.htm)

According to the terms of the contract published by the civic body, the contractor should either own a concrete paving machine with electronic sensor and in-built vibrator or produce a letter from those owning such a machine stating that they would make it available to the contractor. The contractor had failed to meet this requirement. Yet, the civic body had awarded the contract to him. The contractor was getting the road concreted manually.


Opposition members protest at MCC meeting (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/01/stories/2009090159660300.htm)

They urged Mayor M. Shankar Bhat to withdraw the proposal of the civic body to provide 24-hour water supply to Udupi Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (UPCL) for its coal storage yard at New Mangalore Port.


The Mayor said that the civic body was planning to supply water to the city from Lakhya dam in Kudremukh. It would be able to get at least 6 MGD of water from there. In addition, when the corporation’s four sewage treatment plants became operational, another 18 MGD water would be made available, he said.

MANGALORE: The meeting convened on Tuesday, to address the issue of alleged felling of trees during concretization in the 2.5 km road from Fr Muller Hospital to Nandigudda, decided to work on an alternative plans to avoid cutting of trees during such an exercise.

The meeting was convened by the Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development here on Tuesday. The meet was attended by the local residents and the MCC consultant Dharmaraj.

According to the decision taken at the meeting, the forum representatives will sit with Dharmaraj and his team to suggest alternative plans within a couple of days.

Dharmaraj said, similar kind of problem related to felling of temple trees at Karangalapady was sorted out by holding parleys with the people and trees were also saved. The meeting agreed to work on similar lines.

Referring to the concrete stumps to denote the median installed on the road, Eric Ozario, former president of Konkani Parishat, said, they were causing problems as no indicators were installed. He said, they would remove them on Wednesday. Dharmaraj said he would arrange to remove them by Wednesday morning.

Eric announced that the people decided not to allow cutting down of a single tree on this stretch and the MCC should work on alternative plans.


Source: TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/mangalore/MCC-residents-to-decide-on-alternative-plan/articleshow/4960845.cms)

Proposal to acquire land in two villages in Mangalore taluk dropped
They are Bappanadu and Karnad
Final notification does not mention them

http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/02/images/2009090258770301.jpg
A view of National Highway 17, which passes through Mulky town.

MANGALORE: The Dakshina Kannada district administration has dropped its proposal to acquire land in two villages near Mulky in Mangalore taluk for the proposed four-lane project between Surathkal and Kundapur.

This is likely to affect the Centre’s plans to provide a bypass to Mulky town while building a super-fast four-lane highway on the 90-km stretch between Kundapur and Talapady.

Sources in the administration attribute the decision to drop the land acquisition proposal to political pressure. The two villages are Bappanadu and Karnad.

The preliminary notification for land acquisition, published in the Gazette of India on August 28, 2008, proposed to acquire land in eight villages between Surathkal and Mulky. The villages were Bappanadu, Karnad, Chitrapu, Bellairu, Puddupanamburu, Haleyangadi, Pavanje and Surathkal. The final notification published in the Gazette of India on August 28, 2009 has dropped Bappanadu and Karnad villages from the list of villages.

The preliminary notification was printed in newspapers on October 7, 2008, and the final notification on Tuesday .

In addition, a public notice (dated August 28, 2009) issued by the Assistant Commissioner, Mangalore subdivision, for land acquisition, makes it clear that land in Bappanadu and Karnad villages will not be acquired. The notice was printed in newspapers on Tuesday. The notice has mentioned that land in six villages (excluding Bappanadu and Karnad villages) will be acquired and project-affected people will have to report before the Assistant Commissioner on September 14.

What next?

What will happen if the land is not acquired in the two villages? Sources told The Hindu that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is to implement the project, had proposed to construct a 1.9-km bypass through Bappanadu and Karnad villages in Mulky. In the changed scenario, it cannot lay the bypass.

Secondly, the whole process will be delayed even if the administration decides to acquire land now. To acquire village land, they will have to issue a fresh preliminary notification again under Section 3 ‘A’ of the National Highways Act, 1956.

Later, a final notification will have to be issued under Section 3 ‘D’ of the Act within one year of publishing the preliminary notification. Thus the process will take another one year.

When contacted, Prabhuling Kavalikatti, Assistant Commissioner, Mangalore sub-division and competent authority for land acquisition, told The Hindu that the peoples’ representatives, including an MLA, had objected to the acquisition of land in the two villages.

“Hence we had to take a re-look at the project,” he said.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/02/stories/2009090258770300.htm)

From the picture it is clear that there is enough land for fourlaning along current stretch. Service road may be a problem? As such whole stretch of NH-17 upto Udupi is almost urbanized now. So it may be better to come up with an additional new road along Konkan Railway line on entire stretch from Baikampady to Udupi as suggested by people already in addition to fourlaning of current NH-17.

“We are proud that the UK recognised the importance of Bangalore long before any other country and invested in a very strong commercial relationship. But the Deputy High Commission will now focus on the whole of the state and not just Bangalore,” Hyde said. He added that the commission will hold an outreach event in Mangalore in October, which will feature local politicians, academicians and cultural icons.


Source: DHNS (http://www.deccanherald.com/content/23130/british-trade-office-upgraded-deputy.html)

MANGALORE: To make up for the loss of trees while laying concrete roads here, the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) has decided to plant saplings at an estimated cost of Rs. 10 lakh with the assistance of the Forest Department.

“We will send a cheque for Rs. 10 lakh to the Forest Department on Thursday,” corporation commissioner K.N. Vijayaprakash told The Hindu.

Mayor M. Shankar Bhat said that about 140 trees had been cut in recent years for upgrading select main tar roads into concrete roads. It was not possible to plant saplings on the sides of all roads that had been upgraded because of lack of space. Saplings would be planted wherever there was space.


Read more on The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/04/stories/2009090455040500.htm).

There is no news on development of gardens. My concern is now that whether they are going to plant trees on footpath causing further inconvenience to pedestrians. I wish that they will identify separate space other than footpath for planting trees (space of road dividers may be used?) and develop some more gardens and children playgrounds within the city. The Kadri Garden is so much congested now that whole space outside the park is used for parking vehicles. And vehicles overspeeding on this road are knocking out pedestrians who are forced to walk on road because of parked vehicles. If they develop more parks and gardens then only overcrowding at Kadri park will go down. Also, it is better to start planting new saplings now itslef for the trees to be cut for Mangala Corniche.

Read more on The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/04/stories/2009090455040500.htm).

There is no news on development of gardens. My concern is now that whether they are going to plant trees on footpath causing further inconvenience to pedestrians. I wish that they will identify separate space other than footpath for planting trees (space of road dividers may be used?) and develop some more gardens and children playgrounds within the city. The Kadri Garden is so much congested now that whole space outside the park is used for parking vehicles. And vehicles overspeeding on this road are knocking out pedestrians who are forced to walk on road because of parked vehicles. If they develop more parks and gardens then only overcrowding at Kadri park will go down. Also, it is better to start planting new saplings now itslef for the trees to be cut for Mangala Corniche.

In reality the tree planting after its destruction never really happens ! For publicity they plant afew saplings . After that things are forgotten. The dividers are too narrow for planting trees. They should be used for installing lights for safety.

^^ If I remember correctly, an ex-mayor or a corporator earlier told that trees on road side spoil the road during rainy season as big water drops falling from them erode roads. (irrespective of whether trees are planted on divider or footpath). Also there is a concern that old & weak tree branches often fall on pedestrains and vehicles. (As one rare exception MCC has provided enough space for small plants on Maidan road divider.)

As people often drive overspeed without caring for speed limits definitely red indicator lights are needed on dividers. But, I am more concerned about safety of pedestrians who abide by laws and still get knocked down by overspeeding vehicles. You can always find bikes, cars, autos travelling with high speeds on narrow roads like Coehlo, Sturrock, Milagres-Railway station cross roads. There is no proper footpath or humps to limit speed on these roads. Same is true for almost all other roads of Mangalore.

Kadaba, September 5: State BJP President D V Sadananda Gowda initiated progress work of Uppinangadi-Subrahmanya state highway from Mardhala to Kaikamba near Kadaba on Thursday. The work has been taken up with the grant of Rs.4.5crores.


“Rs.30 crores is released for the complete improvement of Uppinangady – Subrahmanya road which has not seen even minimum progress since 4 decades. Work worth Rs.9.5crores is already completed. Work amounting Rs.16 crores is under progress. New bridges will be constructed at Bajakere and Nettana with the expenditure of Rs.75 lakhs each”, said Gowda.


Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=691798&lang=1)

Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar gave an inspection visit to Mini Vidhana Soudha u/c and newly built transportation & court office buildings. Mini Vidhana Soudha is u/c on 2.85 acres land at a cost of Rs. 5 crores. MP appreciated the good work done by contractor who built the transportation office building.

Other projects sanctioned are

Puttur-Uppinangadi road resurfacing with central fund of Rs. 1 crore.
Alternative bridge to Chelyadka bridge on Puttur-Panaje road at a cost of Rs. 73 lakhs.
Kavoor-Eshwaramangala road resurfacing at a cost of Rs. 2 crores.
New bridge on Periyadka-Korambadi road at a cost of Rs. 1 crore.
Vitla-Kabaka road development at a cost of Rs. 1 crore.
Bridge at Madavi at a cost of Rs. 1


Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/epaper/PDFList.aspx?Pg=H&Edn=MN&DispDate=9/3/2009)

It will be established on build-own-transfer basis; bids invited for the Rs. 260 crore-project
‘Port registers growth in the handling of petroleum products, LPG, iron ore’
Port’s container traffic went up from 11,011 TEUs in 2007-08 to 14,483 TEUs in 2008-09

Mangalore: The New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) has planned to build a container terminal on build-own-transfer (BOT) basis considering the growth in container traffic in the last four years.

An NMPT press release issued here on Thursday, quoting its Chairman P. Tamilvanan, said that the proposed terminal would boost the container traffic at the NMPT “since a lot of containerised cargo from the hinterland of Karnataka could be tapped.” He said traffic has been growing steadily.

Sources in the NMPT said it had invited global bidding for the establishment of the 300-metre terminal with space to accommodate 2 lakh TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).

The project was expected to cost Rs. 260 crore. It would be provided with two rail-mounted cranes, four gantry cranes and two reach stackers. Eleven companies had already responded and a pre-bid conference had been conducted to clarify their doubts regarding the project, sources added.

The port had improved its performance with regard to cargo handling in the first five months of this year compared to the corresponding period last year.

The port handled 15.23 million tonnes of cargo during the current year 2009-10 (up to August 2009) as against 15.09 million tonnes handled in the previous year. It said there was growth in the handling of petroleum products, LPG, iron ore, fertilizer, limestone, containerised cargo, etc. The port’s container traffic in 2007-08 was 11,011 TEUs. It went up to 14,483 TEUs in 2008-09, said the sources.

It may be noted that there had been high-level discussions in the recent past regarding establishment of a container depot at Hassan to help pooling of container cargo from the hinterland at the town and onward movement to the port. The Container Corporation of India had even announced rail freight rates for the movement of containers from Hassan to the Mangalore port.

The press release added that almost all the roads inside the port had either been concretised or strengthened so that there was free flow of traffic even during the current monsoon period. Recently the port had rationalised the deployment of cargo handling labourers. This had led to an average reduction of 33 per cent in labour deployment.

This reduction would also help the port to be more competitive in terms of handling charges. All these factors might contribute to the growth of traffic at the port in the coming months, the release added.

Meanwhile, the release said that the employees of the Mangalore port had been given bonus of Rs. 8,055 each for the financial year 2008-09.

The Ministry of Shipping had declared 19.18 per cent bonus for the financial year 2008-2009 to the workers, ministerial staff and officers of major ports. Accordingly, the NMPT paid the bonus to its employees on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.thehindu.com/2009/09/04/stories/2009090459300300.htm)

This service will start this month . Originally planned as a daily service it will run thrice a week starting at 715 AM from Mangalore Central. A very convenient train as Parasuram starts too early from Mangalore Central.

Encouraged by an increase in the demand for éclairs (chocolates) in the market, the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative Ltd. (CAMPCO) plans to increase its production capacity at its chocolate factory at Puttur in Dakshina Kannada this year.

S.R. Rangamurthy, president of the CAMPCO, told The Hindu that the present production of éclairs at its factory stood at 3,000 tonnes a year. Another unit with a capacity to produce 5,000 tonnes of éclairs a year would be added by December-end. Then, the production capacity at the Puttur factory would increase to 8,000 tonnes of éclairs a year. The expansion project was estimated to cost Rs. 3.8 crore, he said.

The demand for choco chips (made out of cocoa) manufactured at the factory had also increased. There was a good demand for the chips from north Indian States, especially from Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Gujarat. Stating that expansion of this unit was on the cards, he said a new machine would be installed at the factory during this fiscal year at an estimated cost of Rs. 90 lakh to increase its production.

Mr. Rangamurthy said that the existing machine at the factory had the capacity to produce five tonnes of choco chips a month against a demand for 35 tonnes a month. The new machine would have a capacity to produce 60 tonnes of choco chips a month, he said.

The co-operative would set up a drying yard to dry the wet cocoa beans purchased from farmers at Kavu, near Puttur. In addition, a centralised warehouse would be set up there to store rubber, which it was planning to procure from farmers, and other sources. It had purchased a 12-acre plot there for the purpose, he said.

The CAMPCO, which was a multi-State cooperative society of Karnataka and Kerala farmers, was awaiting the approval of the Rubber Board to start procuring rubber from growers. It had identified 10 places, in Karnataka and Kerala, in the rubber-growing areas to set up the proposed procurement centres, he said


Source: The Hindu (http://beta.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/article15550.ece)

MYSORE: After a lull, the Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KEONICS) is foraying into Tier-II cities to develop Information Technology (IT) parks.

The IT Park in Hubli was the first and only facility developed by it in Tier-II category for the growth of IT sector.

Owing to “positive” response to its market survey conducted recently, KEONICS, which has developed the IT Park in Electronics City in Bangalore on 332 acres of land housing over 135 renowned companies, has proposed to develop IT Parks in Mysore and Mangalore, the fastest growing Tier-II cities in the State.

The cities have the potential to be developed as promising IT destinations after Bangalore.

The IT Park in Mysore will come up near Infosys campus in Hebbal industrial area in the city.

According to KEONICS, many IT and BPO companies have moved to the tier-II cities to tap the competitive cost advantage in operations, availability of local qualified manpower and the minimum attrition levels, besides having lesser infrastructure woes.

PPP model

In the first phase, KEONICS plans to develop IT Parks in Mysore and Mangalore on Public-Private Participation (PPP) mode.

If the project gets the expected response, the parks would be expanded in the second phase, sources on KEONICS said.

The park will come up in one acre of land and the total built-up area of the park in each city will be around one lakh square feet.

Mysore project

Sources told The Hindu, that KEONICS has five acres of land in Hebbal industrial area and the park will come up in one acre land under PPP model.

The land in Mangalore is located near STPI and opposite to AJ Hospital campus.

Favourable for investment

Despite economic downturn, the KEONICS has come forward to develop the IT Parks in the tier-II cities, on behalf of the Government of Karnataka, overwhelmed over the “favourable response” it received to its market survey, which was conducted to study feasibility of having the IT facility in the cities.

The IT Park project for the two cities was in mind before, but was put off perhaps due to slump in economic activity. Based on the survey recently, the corporation revived its proposal on IT parks and accordingly invited interested developers, investors, consortiums, IT firms and BPO firms to a one level system of selection of the bidder for the projects, the sources said.

KEONICS holds prime land in these two towns with a strategic fit for developing IT parks and wants to select a bidder who shall design, finance, build, market, operate and transfer the asset created at the end of the lease term to the corporation.

The IT Park in Hubli was developed in 2002 and the total built up area of 1.75 lakh square feet area was created for the IT and BPO companies.

However, only 75,000 sq feet of space was occupied in the park, since its inception.

Congestion in Bangalore

“Bangalore is getting congested. IT and BPO companies keen to operate in the State may have to consider tier-II cities for launching the operations as land is becoming scarce in the capital. Moreover, the government is giving a big push to tier-II cities in order to prepare them for the future and facilitate development on a faster pace,” the sources add.

If the IT park project gets good response and companies take possession of the entire space created at the facilities in the two cities, the KEONICS may think of expanding the facility for accelerating the IT growth further.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/07/stories/2009090754460500.htm)

Status of Mudipu IT Park? (KIADB?).

Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/07/stories/2009090754460500.htm)

Status of Mudipu IT Park? (KIADB?).


What has happened to the Ganjimatt park? Is it not sensible complete the current projects before jumping to the next one?

What about Nitesh estates and Thumbay IT parks? (Private sector)

What about infosy's? Has the construction work completed. I am aware that they have already started near Konaje.

Yes Ajay. Infosys Unit-2 @Mudipu is already functioning.
I think Mudipu Corporate Building (IT Park? KIADB or KEL?) may be ready by now.

None of Ganjmat (including Nitesh Estates), Thumbay, Shaktinagar, etc construction has started I think.

As per earlier reports Mangalore-Udupi belt is considered for ITIR (IT Infrastructure Region). Hope this will not end up as PCPIR.

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/7320/asterparagonbuildersala.png (http://img141.imageshack.us/i/asterparagonbuildersala.png/)

For more visit the website PARAGON (http://www.paragonbuilders.in/aster.asp).

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/6818/saphirebew.gif (http://img199.imageshack.us/i/saphirebew.gif/)

For more visit Mahabaleshwara (http://www.mahabaleshwara.com/Ongoing%20Projects/Classique%20Saphire/Classique%20Saphire.htm)

About Gangimutt, What I have heard is that all big real estate firms from bangalore have got the plots there. It is under the full control of KIADB, bangalore so they got the approval from there. Non of the local SME have got. No construction is going on. these real estate agensis got land for less cost are using this as land banks.

20 companies of Ganjimat

Brigade Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
Sharavathi Enterprises, Bangalore
Atlas Tech Park, Bangalore
Sign and Display Systems Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
Firstface Information Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
Fluteglass Hotels and Resorts Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
Lotus IT Tech Park Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
Renaissance Design Build Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
RMZ Infotech Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
Kinfotech Software Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
J.K. Brothers Constrafin Ltd., Bangalore
Nitesh Estates Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
Sanchar Engineers Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
Samruddhi IT Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
P.M. Exports, Bangalore
P.M. Infoteches, Bangalore
Vikram Traders, Bangalore
Fairmont Hotel Pvt. Ltd., Chennai
Plant-Tech International Ltd., Mangalore
Info Experts Inc., Texas, U.S.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2008/08/13/stories/2008081359170300.htm

I think by now road development works are complete @Ganjimat EPIP. Even NH-13 needs to be widened upto Moodubidre atleast. Currently under port connectivity project only 1.1 km stretch of NH-13 between Nanthoor-Bikarnakatte will be developed as fourlane with a flyover @Bikarnakatte. Also an airport bypass road may boost Ganjimat.

Primarily due to the concrete blanket and lack of proper drainage system the monsoon rain water fails to seep as groundwater. Moreover since Mangalore is a coastal area the rain water easily flows into the sea converting itself to non-potable salty water.
While widening the roads several trees which earlier used to serve as shade for pedestrians and also serve as air plant have also been cut -off.
In the absence of trees the fertile soil of the land is also getting eroded into the ocean. On the other side even the ocean on account of global warming is encroaching upon the land.
Also modification or development is not done in the traditional drainage link as a result; the manholes and drainage system are also constantly blocked by these litters making its purpose useless. The rain water also scatters all the filth in its path making the entire surrounding unhygienic.
And since there is a lack of accountability from the part of the government the project is taking its own sweet time for completion. Many of the road construction sites are also left temporarily abandoned or left unchecked without any prior warning sign; this not only causes inconveniences to the daily commuters but also invites several cases of accident especially in the night.



Read full article on Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/browsearticles.php?arttype=Opinion&articleid=1537) (by Harish Raj)

I prefer grid like (porous) bricks for pavements through which rain water recharges ground. In between space to be filled by grass.

I agree and disagree with the third point. If soil is not covered (either concrete, tar, grass or trees) then definitely erosion will take place. Anyway we have to protect our fertile soil.

‘Boats may not be able to operate from fishing harbour’
The shape of beaches is said to have changed in the past few years
‘Increasing sea temperature may spell disaster to marine population’

MANGALORE: Operation of fishing boats from the harbour may be rendered impossible in the event of the Netravati finding an alternative way to join the Arabian Sea and forming a different estuary.

K.S. Jayappa, Reader in Marine Geology Department of Mangalore University, said in a seminar here on Monday that he feared that the Netravati might find a new location to join the sea near Kotepura. A research had found that the beach here had undergone a lot of changes in the past few years, and at a particular place, the gap between the river and the sea was narrowing down. In the years to come, the river might join the sea at a different place, reducing the inflow of water at the present estuary, he said.

Since the Gurupura estuary and the Netravati estuary were connected, this could have disastrous impact on the Mangalore fishing harbour. The water level could go down, affecting the very operation of fishing vessels from there, Mr. Jayappa said.

Dams

The way sand settled off Mangalore coast was undergoing huge change because of the 50-odd dams built across the Netravati and the Gurupra, illegal sand-mining, and construction of break water. “If you had seen Kotepura beach a few years ago and visit it now, you will know for yourself,” he told students of Expert P.U. College, which hosted the seminar on climate change.

Beaches

Mr. Jayappa said a study on the sand sedimentation dynamics between Surathkal and Talapady had revealed these changes. The shape of the beaches had changed dramatically. While New Mangalore Port Trust had spent Rs. 30 crore for dredging in 2000, sea-erosion had cost the State Government more than Rs. 50 crore for building sea walls with boulders, he said.

A.P. Dineshbabu, senior scientist, Mangalore Research Centre of the Cochin-based Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, said that climate change could lead to increase in sea temperature, which could have disastrous consequences on fishermen.

Adverse impact

The coral fishes could die, taking away a rich source of biodiversity. This, coupled with a rise in the carbon dioxide in the sea, could cause death of many fish species, he said.

Rising temperature

Studies had shown that temperatures above 27 degree Celsius could lead to production of only female Olive Ridley turtles in the Orissa coast. Closer home, the exports of many species of fishes would be seriously impaired if the temperatures increased, he said.

Greenhouse effect

Genetic Engineering lecturer at St. Aloysius College Smitha Hegde called upon students to think of the consequences of increase in the dynamic atmosphere by one degree Celsius when a change of one or two Fahrenheit of temperature in human body could throw a person off balance. The greenhouse effect could lead to severe drinking water crisis, she said.

Head of Extension Education Wing of the College of Fisheries S.M. Shivaprakash said that a Pune-based research organisation had found that the temperature of the climate had gone up b 0.9 degree Celsius since 1949. Monsoons would be seriously affected unless this was arrested, he said.

Urban contribution

Mangalore City Corporation Commissioner K.N. Vijayaprakash said that three-fourth of the contribution to the climate change came from urban areas. He said he was willing to incorporate suggestions to reduce this. A holistic approach to tackle the situation was needed, he added.

Chairman of the college Narendra Nayak, its principal K. Rajendra, president of the Association of British Scholars K.C. Shet, and British Council Representative Anu Thambi were present.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/08/stories/2009090857980300.htm)

Read also Changes in Gurupur mouth, 1887 (http://tulu-research.blogspot.com/2008/02/98-changes-in-gurupur-river-mouth-1887.html)

Puttur, September 7: MP Nalin Kumar Katil assures to revamp National Highways passing through Dakshina Kannada Assembly constituencies, within one month after the end of the rainy season. Nalin told that, he has given strict instructions to the Executive Engineer of National Highway.

Speaking to the media Nalin further said that,proposal has been submitted to sanction Rs 21 lacks to NH-13 of Beluvai- Yedapadav-Mangalore, Rs1.30 crore to NH-48 passing through Addahole- B.C.Road, Rs.93 lacks to NH-13 of Pumpwell- Tokkottu and also said that memorandum has already been submitted to sanction repair grants.

The stones obstructing the free movement of traffic in NH-48 Shiradi Ghats are still not removed due to rain. The NH-48 will be cleared within 15 days after the end of rainy season.


Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=692993&lang=1)

Read also Traffic Ban in Force - Work Yet to Start on NH 48 (http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=65231&n_tit=Shiradi+Ghat+%3A+Traffic+Ban+in+Force+-++Work+Yet+to+Start+on+NH+48) & Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/epaper/PDFList.aspx?Pg=H&Edn=MN&DispDate=9/7/2009) page 11.

MANGALORE: Journey from Surathkal to Mangalore central railway station, a distance of 25 kms, can be covered in 30-40 minutes by train. But, the single line from Panambur to Mangalore Junction (Kankanady) takes double the time due to railway crossing. The problem is likely to be rectified by mid 2010 when the doubling of this track will be completed by the Southern Railway. As of now, the survey has begun for the doubling exercise. Land acquisition is the next process.

Due to this problem, the Matsyagandha (2619) train which arrives at Surathkal station at 7.50 am, reaches Mangalore Central at 9.30 am. This delay forces passengers to disembark the train and catch a city bus, which saves them at least an hour of travel time. But this luxury is available only for passengers with light luggage and others are forced to put up with this delay.

The single line between Panambur-Kankanady runs 16 kms and trains at either ends have to wait in case another train is on the track. After doubling, this distance should be covered by a passenger train in 30-40 minutes.

In case the travel time is reduced between Surathkal and Mangalore, this would ensure that people from Surathkal and others areas up to Udupi could use the Matsyagandha to catch the 6516 tri-weekly day train to Bangalore which leaves Mangalore Central at 8.40 am. For others, it should ensure that they'll reach home early.

B Ramesh Adiga from Manipal says, the Konkan Railway authorities should also give a commercial halt to Matsyagandha at Mangalore Junction so that in case of delay, those who want to travel to Bangalore can board the 6516 train at Mangalore Junction. The junction is six kms from central station and trains take roughly 10-12 minutes to cover the distance.

As of now, the Matsyagandha has a stop of 10 minutes for diesel filling at Mangalore Junction, which is used by passengers to disembark. "If the authorities decide not to fill diesel, then there'll be no stop at the junction. Hence, a minute of commercial stop is needed", says a railway personnel at the station.

Sources in Konkan Railway said that as the junction is under Southern Railway, the Railway Board should be approached for a stop. "Considering the 6516 train case, it can be approved", the source added.

This problem persists only during the monsoon schedule which is operational in the months of June leading to October. Otherwise, the train reaches central station at 6.30 am.


Source: TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/mangalore/Journey-from-Surathkal-Mangalore-to-be-reduced-by-mid-2010/articleshow/4965333.cms)

Considering the pace with which second railway bridge u/C across Netravathi for Mangalore-Shoranur doubling works is mid 2010 a feasible target if a second bridge to be constructed across Gurupur?

NEW DELHI | BANGALORE: A sovereign fund of the Sultanate of Oman is investing roughly Rs 620 crore, or $125 million, in Mangalore-based realty developer Mohtisham’s 300-acre integrated township, sources privy to the development said. The deal is probably the largest fund action in Indian tier-II real estate.

Oman Investment Fund, through a Cypress-incorporated entity, is picking up 50% stake in Mohtisham Estates, a joint venture developing a 18-19 million sq ft project on the Mangalore-Bangalore highway.

When contacted, SM Arshad, Mohtisham, confirmed the investment. “We can confirm that Oman Sovereign fund has taken a stake in the project,” he said. He, however, refrained from divulging financial details of the transaction.

Mohtisham is a nearly two-decade-old realty player with established ties in the Arabian Gulf. It is believed that the transaction was a direct one and did not go through a market process.

Several Middle-East sovereign funds have been scouting for opportunities in India’s real estate and infrastructure sector as they have a liking for investments backed by physical assets and those are broadly in line with Shariah principles. Sovereign funds of Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar are active in the country at the moment.

Oman fund’s investment would flow into the project in a phased manner and could even top $125 million, sources added. For a while now, sectoral experts have been predicting the emergence of big real estate play in India’s tier-II, or even tier-III, centres. And this deal could be one of the early precursors to a developing story.

Sources said work on the project would start early next year and is likely to be completed over eight years. The first phase of the project is expected to hit the market in three years. The township will have residential units, a mall, schools, hotel and a special economic zone.

Real estate trackers are split on whether Mangalore is ready to absorb a massive development of this scale. But optimists believe investors in the project are possibly ahead of the revival curve in a city touted as an energy and education hub in the boom years. “The potential remains undiminished. ONGC has led the pack with significant investment initiatives. The city, given its proximity to Manipal, is already an education hub. It has large overseas linkages especially with the Middle-East and is an expanding port city,” explained one sectoral observer.

The only downside is probably the communal clashes that rocked the city in recent years, and the emergence of an ultra conservative fringe that hurt the city’s cosmopolitan image.


Source: Economic Times (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Markets/Real-Estate/News-/Mega-Oman-bucks-in-Mangalore-realty/articleshow/4988091.cms)

Mohtisham Celebrations 125 acres project was supposed to come up at Kannur. Is this 300 acres project is same one at Kannur?
Also, where does JNNURM Intercity project is coming up?

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/408/ssixlane.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/ssixlane.jpg/)

Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/epaper/PDFList.aspx?Pg=H&Edn=MN&DispDate=9/9/2009) page 12.

Mayor Shankar Bhat told that Surathkal-MRPL road will be converted to a sixlane concrete road at a coast of Rs. 30 crores with MRPL partnership. MRPL will bear the entire cost. In 4.5 kilometer long, 100 feet wide road 65 feet will be conceretized and remaining width will be pavemented with interlocks. Land Army will be carrying out the project. Surathkal railway overbridge will be expanded.

Source: Economic Times (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Markets/Real-Estate/News-/Mega-Oman-bucks-in-Mangalore-realty/articleshow/4988091.cms)

Mohtisham Celebrations 125 acres project was supposed to come up at Kannur. Is this 300 acres project is same one at Kannur?
Also, where does JNNURM Intercity project is coming up?


Nodoubt..it is Mohtisham celeberations! This will be a boost boost to real estate in Mangalore.JNNURM project details have not been divulged in detail..

^^ Even Beary's Gold Coast 50 acres project is also waiting for partnership? Other one not in talk is Sahara.

http://www.bearysgroup.com/Bearys%20gold%20coast.asp

The names memtioned in Ganjimutt SEZ, Has any one started the construction or they have just invested in land waiting for good customer. Also any updates on the Cricket stadium suppose to come there??

I feel if the B.C Road- Mangalore road is complted, the entire strech will get the boost and development starts there. Mothisham's decision to custruct the modern city also makes sense then. also if Mangalore Ring road project is taken up it will just pass near to this place and give direct contact to deralakattai, mangalore downtown, Airport and Panamboor.

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 9: In a news that is sure to bring smiles on the faces of the people residing in the areas along and near the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) facility, the road between Suratkal and MRPL will soon be converted into a six-lane concrete road, by using latest technology, announced city mayor Shankar Bhat.

Bhat said that the project cost of the road will be borne in its entirety by MRPL, and a decision in this respect, was taken at a meeting held with MRPL on Tuesday. The project will be executed jointly by the city corporation and MRPL, he added.

The estimated cost of the project, involving 4.5 kms long and 65 feet wide road, is Rs 30 crore. This 100-feet wide road will also be equipped with road dividers and street lights, and the balance portion will be covered by high quality interlocks, he added. The work of laying of the concrete road will be entrusted to Land Army Corporation and the work will begin within a month, he added. Bhat also revealed that funds have been set apart and the railway department has been contacted, for the widening of the railway over-bridge at Suratkal.


I think it is sensible to extend this road to the airport. That means people proceeding towards north could use this road and join NH17 at Surathkal. That means more traffic at Surathkal which already receives 80,000 PCU's a day!

Source: Economic Times (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Markets/Real-Estate/News-/Mega-Oman-bucks-in-Mangalore-realty/articleshow/4988091.cms)

Mohtisham Celebrations 125 acres project was supposed to come up at Kannur. Is this 300 acres project is same one at Kannur?
Also, where does JNNURM Intercity project is coming up?


This is real good news for Mangalore which is one of the fastest growing Tier 2 cities in the South and India as well.

Mangalore is well ahead of other Tier 2 cities in terms of infrastructure development (minus the JNNURM FUNDS). That is really commendable.The fourlaning of city roads is proceeding at such a pace that even the people are protesting as they have not witnessed anything like this in recent years.

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=143155

^^

The names memtioned in Ganjimutt SEZ, Has any one started the construction or they have just invested in land waiting for good customer. Also any updates on the Cricket stadium suppose to come there??

They should be able to hold KPL in Mangalore in near future. Shouldn't KPL mean investment to develop cricket and cricket stadium?

None has started cnstruction in Ganjimat as I know so far.

http://mangalorean.com/images/newstemp22/20090908pattern8.jpg

Pattern Advertising Co. is a complete advertising & graphic solution under one roof. It's the best in coastal Karnataka. On being asked Mr. Srinivasan, Marketing Head of Lipa Marketing, Chennai who supplied the machinery and was here for training the staff said that Pattern Advertising is the first of its kind in Coastal Karnataka. “The kind of machines used here are of high quality and only a few firms in Bangalore and one firm each in Mysore and Goa uses them, I am not sure of North Indian stats” he added.

http://mangalorean.com/images/newstemp22/20090908pattern4.jpg


Read more on Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=144729).

Beaulieu Apartments, Vaslane, Falnir
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/1843/beaulieularge.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/i/beaulieularge.jpg/)

Classique Krishna, Kodialaguttu road east
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/4285/casskrish.gif (http://img6.imageshack.us/i/casskrish.gif/)

N J Paradise, Chilimbi
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/7320/paradisee.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/paradisee.jpg/)

Pinto's Silver Castle, Kinnigoli
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9017/157316.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/157316.jpg/)

Apoorva Associates' new projects
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/3731/apoorva.png (http://img29.imageshack.us/i/apoorva.png/)


Sources:
http://designerhomesmangalore.com/html/beaulieu.html
http://www.mpb.co.in/Classique_Krishna.html
http://njbuilders.net/paradise.html
http://www.mangaloremithr.com/news/story.aspx?News-ID=5386
http://www.apoorvaassociates.com/projects.html

^^



They should be able to hold KPL in Mangalore in near future. Shouldn't KPL mean investment to develop cricket and cricket stadium?

Murthy, In KPL mangalore team is there it is great news for mangaloreans. But this team belong to one person and not to mangalore creicket association. Also the person owns it belong to Congress party, so ruling party might not be interested to associate with it to develop cricket stadium.

I hope the politics doesn't come in the way of stadium development and we will see one in next three years atleast.

^^ No problem. They can come up with separate stadiums - one for MCA and the other for KPL. May be the later one in Udupi? Let us see who will complete first. 20-20 months for each.

can anyone plz post some pics of mangalore city roads.......:)

can anyone plz post some pics of mangalore city roads.......:)


Not a good time now as atleast 15 or more roads are being fourlaned! Good to take pictures once they are completed.

Court orders status quo on tree-felling plans (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/09/stories/2009090958910300.htm)

MANGALORE: In a development that is held as a “partial victory” of the agitation against felling of trees in Kankanady, the Principal Civil Judge (Junior Division) issued a “status-quo” order to the Mangalore City Corporation and the Forest Department on Tuesday. Advocate Suma R. Nayak, who argued the case for the agitators, told The Hindu that as per the order, there should be no attempt at felling the 40-odd trees along the stretch connecting the Kankanady and Kotichennaiah circles. The order will be in place until the Mangalore City Corporation’s Commissioner, its executive engineer and the Tree Officer of the Forest Department file their objections before the court. The “partial victory” notwithstanding, questions are now being raised by some sections on the massive attention that the felling of trees on this stretch had received, compared to the thousands of trees that were felled for the first phase of the Mangalore Special Economic Zone project.

Why did the anti-MSEZ activists, who were part of the campaign in Kankanady, not move the court about the destruction in MSEZ Phase-I? Why did local leftwing groups such as the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), which were again part of the Kankanady agitation, not join hands with the same activists in agitating against the MSEZ? Were all the people in the Kankanady agitation worried about the trees alone, or were there some who were anxious about losing prime property?

Vidya Dinker, an activist, concedes that the Phase-I of the MSEZ went through without resistance from the locals. “We always base our agitations on people’s support,” she says.

State vice-president of the DYFI Muneer Katipalla says that his organisation too was of the view that there were wanton violations in the Phase-I of the MSEZ project.


Is tree-felling imperative for progress? (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/09/stories/2009090958680300.htm)


Protests by people, organisations have only delayed the tree-cutting process
Construction industry also poses a threat to greenery
Some say people should fight to save bio-diversity in Western Ghats

MANGALORE: The conflict between urban development and maintaining greenery came to the fore when a few residents of Valencia, and a few social activists, tied ribbons to a row of trees in a bid to save them from being remove for widening of a stretch between the Father Muller Hospital and Morgan’s Gate here.

The ribbons were tied around the trunks of trees between the hospital and the Koti-Chennaya Circle under a programme called “Vruksha bandan”. The activists stuck placards reading “save me” on the trees there.

Trees are being cut not only for widening the roads and laying new roads but also for construction of apartments, check dams, hydro electric power projects, and forming new residential layouts.

Although the people protested against the cutting of trees in front of Saibeen Complex in Lalbagh a year ago, they could not save them. They were sacrificed for upgrading the tarred road between Lalbagh and Bejai into a concrete one.

Will the trees between the Father Muller Hospital and Morgan’s Gate meet the same end? Although Mangalore City Corporation authorities say that they have no plans to cut them now as the tarred road will be upgraded to two-lane concrete road, people are not sure of their fate since sooner or later the stretch will become a four-lane one.

According to K. Raviraj, Assistant Conservator of Forests and tree officer, Mangalore, the Forest Department has allowed the city corporation to cut 206 trees for widening 16 roads since August, 2008. Syed Mohamed Beary, chairman, State chapter of the Indian Green Building Council, agreed that property developers had destroyed a large number of trees. Mr. Beary, who is himself a builder and chairman of Bearys group, said that his group had saved 40 trees, including coconut trees, in the site where it was now building an apartment at Valencia. G.N. Ashokavardhana, founder of Arohana Mountaineers and Adventurers, wanted to know why some people were making fuss about cutting trees to widen roads. It was inevitable to cut them for development. People should plant saplings on the premises of their houses, he said. Mr. Ashokavardhana said that people should have concern over the felling of trees in the Western Ghats and other natural forest areas for power projects and infrastructure. The bio-diversity hot spots should be conserved first, he said.

Echoing his views was Theertharama Valalambe, a columnist, who said that there was no point in opposing cutting of trees for widening of roads. There were enough places in Mangalore to plant trees.

The city corporation should make its plans to plant trees known to the people,” he said. Commissioner of the city corporation K.N. Vijayaprakash said that the civic body had paid Rs. 8 lakh to the Forest Department to plant saplings in the areas under its jurisdiction.

The Forest Department would be planting 1,016 saplings with that amount and maintain them for three years, he said.


Tree transplantation yet to be tried (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/09/stories/2009090958320300.htm)


‘Infrastructure projects have spelt doom to many roadside trees’

MANGALORE: Even as the projects of widening and concreting of roads to meet the growing infrastructure needs of cities have spelt doom to trees, their transplantation has emerged as an alternative in urban environment.

Beginning from the Metro rail project taken up in Bangalore, the planners of a few infrastructure projects have yielded to the demands of environmentalists and transplanted a large number of trees in the State’s capital. Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister J. Krishna Palemar, who holds the portfolio of Environment, had reportedly spoken highly about the transplanting of a pipal tree from the Race Coarse Road to Sankey Road in Bangalore a year ago. He had promised to spread this message to other civic bodies.

But, the Mangalore City Corporation does not appear to have got it yet. Its environment engineer Manjunath R. Shetty said that he had not heard of any such plans.

Its Commissioner K.N. Vijayaprakash too was candid in admitting that the corporation had not thought on these lines but offered to consider this option. Zhayynn James, Associate Landscape Architect of the Chennai-based Master Plan Architects – the company which transplanted the trees for the Bangalore Metro Rail project, said that transplantation had become a viable alternative. Each tree transplant would cost only about Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000. Considering the effort that was required to grow a tree, this was nothing, he added.


It would be interesting to know how many of environmentalists themselves follow environmental rules while constructing their houses. Many of buildings in Kankanady - Valencia area doesn't even have space for a single tree. Whole of compound is concretized, no water goes into ground. Same is true all over Mangalore.

To know about some good environmentalist read - One-man green brigade (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/bengaluru/one-man-green-brigade-375) or One Man’s Fight for a Clean, Green, Environment (http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=63588&n_tit=Mangalore%3A+One+Man%92s+Fight+for+a+Clean%2C+Green%2C+Environment).

KPL has kick started......sorry for posting it here .... found no other thread for this developement
:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WeZrbt4sC8

2WeZrbt4sC8

Court orders status quo on tree-felling plans (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/09/stories/2009090958910300.htm)


Is tree-felling imperative for progress? (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/09/stories/2009090958680300.htm)


Tree transplantation yet to be tried (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/09/stories/2009090958320300.htm)




It would be interesting to know how many of environmentalists themselves follow environmental rules while constructing their houses. Many of buildings in Kankanady - Valencia area doesn't even have space for a single tree. Whole of compound is concretized, no water goes into ground. Same is true all over Mangalore.

To know about some good environmentalist read - One-man green brigade (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/bengaluru/one-man-green-brigade-375) or One Man’s Fight for a Clean, Green, Environment (http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=63588&n_tit=Mangalore%3A+One+Man%92s+Fight+for+a+Clean%2C+Green%2C+Environment).

I remember that there was an attempt to tranplant a tree during Fourlaning of LadyHill-New Chitra road by a Chennai based company.

Mangalore: Pipal Tree Transplanted to Make Way for Road
Daijiworld News Network – Mangalore (AF) - pics - Dayanand Kukkaje

Mangalore, Sep 7: To facilitate the widening of roads from Ladyhill to Durga Mahal in Mannagudda here, a 75-year-old pipal tree was transplanted by the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) on Wednesday September 6.



Altogether, 7 trees were uprooted out of which only was transplanted. Three of these were pipal trees. The tree was transplanted with the help of experts Shekhar James and Ram Babu from Chennai.

While Canara Urva High School supplied power for the operation, beverages and food packets were provided by the local residents and hoteliers. A special electric saw had to be used for the purpose, as the tree was enormous.



Mayor K Ashraf who was present on the spot assured that he would request the forest department to look after the transplanted tree and would also ask them to plant more saplings along the widened road.

Posted by webmaster at 9/09/2006 12:29:00 PM 0 comments

I feel the agitation between tree lovers and developers are good sign. But There should be proper justification for the same. Current agitation in valencia is more looks like politicall motivated. The trees are in the middle of the road. this road is going to become one of the main road in near future. if we don't expand this once traffic increases the life is going to be hell.
I remember mumbai some three years back when Mumbai muncipal took 15 large roads for concreatization( Andheri, sakinaka etc). These roads used to go bad during rain and it was a worst feel to travel there. due to conggestion, pits and dust. But they did the concreat work in one years time. The roads after one year started looking great and no traffic conggestion, No dust etc.

So we need to see this from broader perspective. at the same time we need to see how many more trees can be planted, How the green zones can be made within citi.

Shiradi Ghat work started for removing the boulders (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=693859&lang=2)

KSRTC awaits approval (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=694067&lang=1)

Mangalore, September 10: It’s been 5 months since KSRTC applied for permit to ply nonstop express buses between Mangalore-Udupi. And also 10 months have passed for the approval of Mangalore city service. Yet the transport authority have not made public its decision. The commuters dream has still not come true.

KSRTC had applied for the Udupi-Mangalore express bus transport permit in the month of May. Even though the court had vacated the stay on the six mini buses, KSTC has no mini buses to ply. And with the same permit, big buses cannot be run.

The proposal by the transport minister for running Volvo bus between Mangalore to Udupi faded away long ago.

KSRTC had applied for permit for total 37 buses to ply in Mangalore limits. But all these application are acquiring dust in the files of the transport office. KSRTC hopes that the issue comes up in the next meeting.

KSRTC Mangalore division came into existence 37 years ago. At present Mangalore has two, Puttur, Dharamastala, Kundapur has one each, which adds to a total of 5 depots. The last depot was started during 1988 in Kundapur. After this no new depot was opened in this region. But in the mean time, number of vehicles have considerably increased. There are 795 buses in Mangalore division which involves 3800 staff. Presently construction work of depots at BC Road and Kuntikana progressing. It may start functioning by the end of this year.

Approval has been received for new depot at Udupi. The depot will be constructed at the cost of Rs.2 crores. A site near National Highway has already been purchased. And the construction work will begin soon said KSRTC sources. The depot will be constructed soon at Sullia. There is demand for new depots at Subrahmanya, Uppinangadi.


As everything under the same government why the delay in providing permission for running city buses?

Mangaladevi is becoming important busstop. They have to plan for a proper bus station terminal there.

n Karnataka, RRL planned to open ten Reliance Fresh outlets in places such as Mysore, Hubli, Darwar and Belgaum within the next few months. It had 55 Reliance Fresh and one each Reliance Mart and Reliance Super across Bangalore and Mangalore cities.

RRL was very keen to put up two more Reliance Mart outlets in Bangalore besides Reliance Super in Mangalore, Hubli and Belgaum, Mathews said.


Source: rediff (http://business.rediff.com/report/2009/sep/09/reliance-retail-plans-expansion-in-southern-states.htm)

I don't know where is 'Reliance Super' located in Mangalore. Whether one more 'Reliance Super' is coming up in Saibeen Complex? (refering to posts by visnaya & pacchu2006)

Concretization of Mangalore
Print this article
By Harsh Raj, Mangalore [ Published Date: September 7, 2009 ]

Mangalore a two tier city with over five lakhs of population, a town with a ever growing population, a district with highest number of educational institutions in the world, paradise for realtor sector, infrastructural hub for some of the most reputed national as well as international institutions and enterprising people.

In order to accommodate the needs of this growing city, the local administration along with the state and national government have implemented a series of developmental project like creation of special economic zones, internationalizing the Bajpe Airport, creating software parks and reviving tourism. An extension to these schemes includes the reinforcement of several road networks with lasting concrete mixtures.
http://mangalorean.com/circle/images/articles/20090907concrete1.jpg

For over the years the request of the Mangaloreans to construct better roads have fallen into deaf ears, resulting in several cases of road related accidents. However for the past one and a half year things seem to be improving with the government initiatives towards building better road infrastructure. But the government seems to be a little off the track when it comes to concept of overall development. While modern roads are welcomed by the Mangalorean community, the problems associated with these progressive works seem to be endless.

* Primarily due to the concrete blanket and lack of proper drainage system the monsoon rain water fails to seep as groundwater. Moreover since Mangalore is a coastal area the rain water easily flows into the sea converting itself to non-potable salty water.
* While widening the roads several trees which earlier used to serve as shade for pedestrians and also serve as air plant have also been cut -off.
* In the absence of trees the fertile soil of the land is also getting eroded into the ocean. On the other side even the ocean on account of global warming is encroaching upon the land.
* Also modification or development is not done in the traditional drainage link as a result; the manholes and drainage system are also constantly blocked by these litters making its purpose useless. The rain water also scatters all the filth in its path making the entire surrounding unhygienic.
* And since there is a lack of accountability from the part of the government the project is taking its own sweet time for completion. Many of the road construction sites are also left temporarily abandoned or left unchecked without any prior warning sign; this not only causes inconveniences to the daily commuters but also invites several cases of accident especially in the night.

Mangalore is not the only city in India to undergo such massive developmental work, there are several metropolitan cities where such kinds of plan have been tried and experimented since many years. Cities like Chandigarh, Navi Mumbai are noted not less than benchmark for planned and well established cities in the world and today they have been successful in establishing their significance. However on the other side, there are also cities like Bangalore and Chennai where the infrastructural features imbalanced as a result large number of people suffer in terms of traffic congestion, pollution, health, hygiene of its people while affecting the biotic and aquatic life.

Infact the whole world witnessed the scale of devastation that Mumbai flood brought along with it in 2005. More than Thousand people had succumbed to the 24 hours nonstop rain of 39.9 inches. The lack of ecological or environment friendly infrastructure had brought the heart of the Indian economy to a standstill for over a week. Even here the reason for such natural imbalance was very evident. The government only saw the economic aspect of the city and ignored the rest. Infact the government had been warned in 2002 by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation regarding the possible wreck if the sewage infrastructure was not upgraded. However the government ignored the 600 crore project because it felt it was "too costly".

In-spite of such occurrences and reoccurrence the government does not seems to be correcting their prior mistakes while implementation of new projects like the one taking place in Mangalore. Its high time that the government reevaluates its scope and concept of the term "Development" before any unanticipated incident.

http://mangalorean.com/browsearticles.php?arttype=Opinion&articleid=1537

No takers for MCC's alternative plans

MANGALORE: The four alternatives provided by the Mangalore City Corporation consultant on Wednesday, following protests against felling of 43 trees on the Fr Muller-Nandigudda Road during concretization, did not cut ice with members of Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development (CFMD) and residents of the area.

The group, which gathered to hear and discuss the proposal, however, said the two-lane concreting in the first phase can go ahead, provided no trees are cut.

Cultural activist Eric Ozario told TOI that they are forwarding a letter to the deputy commissioner, city corporation commissioner to place before the people the second and third phase of the road development works on Fr Muller-Nandigudda Road, especially those who will lose their properties in the road-widening exercise.

MCC consultant Dharmaraj said the first phase would be two-lane concretization, where no trees would be affected. In the second phase which is proposed to be executed within five years, all trees, which incidentally come in the middle of the four-lane road, will be removed. In the third phase, proposed to be taken up in 20 years time for a six-lane road, properties on both sides would have to be acquired.

The four alternate plans, prepared in consultation with MCC consultant Dharmaraj and CFMD consultant Venkatesh Pai, was presented before the people who opposed cutting of tress on that road.

Pai said the problem starts after Roshni Nilaya as the road narrows down till Nandigudda. Pai said a substantial amount of private property would be lost, if trees are to be saved. With the MCC planning a six-lane road, felling of trees becomes imperative.

Ozario and others questioned the rationale of having a six-lane road (100 ft) and asked whether a traffic survey was done to necessitate such a wide road in Valencia.


MCC soothes public fears on tree felling (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/mangalore/MCC-soothes-public-fears-on-tree-felling/articleshow/4996104.cms)

MANGALORE: The city corporation has no plans to cut down trees on the road leading from Father Muller Hospital to Morgans Gate, mayor M Shankar Bhat said here on Thursday.

The road will be a seven-metre two-lane facility, Bhat said adding that the civic body is aware of people's angst about possible felling of trees to facilitate road development work and has also taken cognisance of media reports in this regard.

Bhat at the same time disapproved acts by certain people who uprooted concrete pegs laid to mark road alignment. “This amounts to destruction of public property, and each peg costs around Rs 500,” he said, adding that the corporation will not hesitate to file criminal case against those found indulging in such `destructive' acts. “Steps will be taken to address public concerns in this regard suitably,” he said.

The civic body, in an effort to compensate for loss of green cover owing to felling of trees to facilitate road widening in the city, on Wednesday handed over a cheque for Rs 8 lakh to the forest department. This amount, the mayor said, will be utilized by the department to plant trees and also nurture them for the next three years. "The department has told us that we have cut 206 trees to facilitate development work," he said.

The department will have to give us a report on where they have planted the trees, Bhat said adding and a clause to this effect has been incorporated in an official communication sent to them with the cheque. Bhat at the same time expressed his resentment at reported statements by department officials that MCC had cut trees without their approval. All trees cut have been done only after obtaining necessary clearances, Bhat asserted.

Noting that the civic body's drive to disconnect all illegal water connections tapped from its main 18-MGD line from Thumbay had been successful, Bhat said the corporation has received reports that few people have resorted to this step again. "We will be left with no option but to file a criminal case against such persons," Bhat said adding that MCC has already met the legitimate needs of villages' enroute by providing them water.

The corporation will also launch a major disconnection drive against chronic defaulters of water dues once it holds its Water Adalat on Thursday next. The modalities of holding the disconnection drive will be finalized in consultation with the commissioner, he said.

In a move aimed at helping members of SC/ST community, the corporation has decided to provide water connections along with a plastic water tank to their respective residences at an estimated cost of Rs 22,000 utilizing the 18% reserve funds. The earlier practice of providing just the water tank has been discontinued to curb its misuse. The corporation has also enhanced the funding limit under taali bhagya scheme to Rs 20,000.


Why don't they acquire the land for sixlane with enough space for planting trees and plant new saplings now itself. Planting of new saplings definitely add to the greenery. This can be for the time being developed as road side parks on both sides of the road. Residents can enjoy morning & evening strolls in this park for another five years atleast.:)

Mangalore, Sept. 10 The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) have come forward to develop a six-lane road from Surathkal town in Mangalore to the gate of MRPL plant at Kuttettur.

Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, the Mangalore Mayor, Mr Shankar Bhat, said that a six-lane concrete road will be developed between these two points covering a distance of around 4.5 km.

The six-lane road will have 65-feet wide carriageway. Provisions will be made for the construction of toilets and bus-stops at four places on the side of the road.

Asked about the investment in the road development project, he said the work is estimated to cost Rs 30 crore. MRPL has agreed to fund this project, he said, adding that MCC and MRPL will jointly implement the project.

Apart from this project, the MCC has initiated road concreting projects on its own in other parts of the city. Work is in progress in 15 other road concreting works in the city.

Allaying rumours that trees on the road between Kankanady junction and Morgan’s Gate will be felled for road widening and concreting works, he said there is no proposal before MCC to cut any trees on that stretch.

In fact, the MCC has deposited Rs 8 lakh with the Forest Department to plant trees in the city. The Forest Department recently stated that 206 trees were felled in the city for road widening and concreting works in different parts of the city over a period of time.

Mr Bhat said that MCC will seek details from the Forest Department on the extent of trees planted in the city to make up the loss during various road widening projects.

It may be mentioned here that many of the arterial roads in Mangalore city are now being upgraded as concrete roads with the funds allocated in the Karnataka State Budget for this purpose.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/09/11/stories/2009091151841900.htm

The 1.16-km Kadri Kambala Road, connecting the Circuit House with Kadri-Bunts Hostel Road, would be concreted at a cost of Rs. 2.15 crore.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/11/stories/2009091159960300.htm)

Mangalore, September 10: Condition of Central Market Mangalore which does crores of daily business is becoming pathetic day by day. Daily merchants and customers are facing severe problems.

Demand for lavatory system, drinking water system, regular water supply, proper parking facility are the list of problems.

A single toilet for women is untidy and stinking. Women merchants are spending Rs.30 each/month for its maintenance. Untidy of the area is the source to spread several contagious diseases, told a women merchant who is doing business here since 45 years.

The 50 years old building is leaking at all places. Electricity wires are hanging here and there. Though daily rent of Rs.1.5lakhs is being collected by merchants concerned market management class is not concentrating on its progress. The appeal is being made to the concerned officials since 8 years, resented Hamid Kandak Founder General Secretary of Central Market Merchants Association.


Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=694048&lang=1)

Belthangady, September 10: Inconvenience in plying through Charmadi Ghat is not yet come to an end. There was traffic jam from 10th cross to a hotel belonging to Hasanabba at Charmadi, since Wednesday 10.00pm to 3.00am in both the sides upto 10kms limit.

Commuters were in panic. Though plying of heavy vehicles was prohibited, heavy vehicles like Lorries are violating it. The blockage was caused as a lorry turned turtle at 10th cross on Wednesday night.

Construction work of protection wall at the expense of Rs.8crores has not completed yet. Pot holes are also not filled. Charmadi road is blocked for several hours daily since Shiradi Ghat road is closed for repairs.


Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=694051&lang=1)

Udupi/Mangalore, September 10: The aero project will be introducing 58 post offices under 3 phase. The purpose of this idea is to bring changes in the outlook of offices, work atmosphere and for efficiency in providing services.

Total of 30 post offices will be modernised including head post offices of Mangalore and Udupi district. Puttur head office will be modernised which has other two purposes.

Technically based multi purpose counters will be will be introduced. Management training is given for the achievement of consumer satisfaction. Postmaster General of South Karnataka Region Vasumithra will be inaugurating the new project in Mangalore on September 12 at 11.00am and in Udupi at 3pm.


Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=694217&lang=1)

MANGALORE, September 11, 2009: It could be potential situation for Mangalore- the city that has promised to the state that it will graduate into the next growth centre next to Bangalore is now struggling to strike a balance between development and environment. If it is any indication, the Mayor of the city Mr. Shankar Bhat showed strains of disgust in his voice when he told Mangalorean.com that the city is now in the grip of people who pose as environmentalists but are holding the city to ransom.

He quickly added that the true environmentalists do not scuttle development of the city but do not compromise on degeneration of environment either, they try to strike a balance between the two. But in the recent times groups of people "posing" as environmentalist have been scuttling the developmental projects in the city particularly the road widening and concretizing projects.

Mr. Shankar Bhat taking the case of the Karavali circle to Marnamikatta road was at pain to analyse that some groups had started sabotaging project by dismantling the project plan and also throwing un wanted restrictions and objections. In this stretch the Mangalore City Corporation wanted to have a four lane concretised road but yet there was no plans to cut trees as alleged by the groups.

http://mangalorean.com/images/newstemp22/20090910mcc2.jpg

In several other cases also the groups calling themselves as environmentalists have started heckling the officials and putting hurdles in the developmental work. He said there is money available for taking up any developmental projects in the city but everywhere we are finding the threat of pseudo environmental group.

"We also want Mangalore to be green and clean always. We have plans to plant five trees for every tree lost, our environmental engineering section has been carrying out periodical surveys about the loss of greenery and identifying the areas for tree planting, the MCC has given Rs. 8 lakhs to the forest department to plant trees wherever possible in the city. It is unfortunate that the forest department has also given tacit support to the pseudo environmentalists by objecting to tree cutting. Our own tree officers have been taking up planting of trees wherever the Corporation had to cut trees for some reason. We are planting 5 trees per each tree cut" says Mr. Manjunath the tree officer.

Mangalore city had only narrow roads in the past, but due in the recent years roads are getting better in quality and breadth. About 120 square kilometer of roads were being concretised in the city. The people always had a complaint about the narrow and pot hole ridden roads in Mangalore but when it is time for having good roads there is lot of trouble, If we do not do it now Mangalore might not get another chance says Mr. Ivan D'Souza a conscentitious citizen of Valencia.


Source: Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=145117)

MUMBAI: Engineering major Punj Lloyd on Friday said it has bagged an order worth Rs 550 crore from state-run Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (MRPL) for construction related works.

Under the project, the company would construct coke drum structure package for Mangalore refinery, Punj Lloyd said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

Shares of Punj Lloyd today closed at Rs 257.55, down 0.56 per cent from its previous end on BSE.


Source: ET (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Indl-Goods-/-Svs/Punj-Lloyd-bags-Rs-550-cr-contract/articleshow/4999179.cms)

With an aim to have a wider presence in the Indian market, Pride Group of Hotels is now eyeing Tier II cities to expand its business hotel brand, Pride Biznotel. For the same, the company is considering cities like Surat and Rajkot in Gujarat; Mangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai and Kochi in south India. The hotel chain will operate properties under this brand on a management and marketing contract. A management contract has been signed for two Biznotels in Maharashtra.


Source: HospitalityBIZINDIA (http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=6149&sid=1)

krishnamoorthy wats the progress/latest w.r.t the tree felling issue for widening in mangalore???/
mangalore is the only city in karnataka which is seeing massive revamp of infrasrtucture for the better.....:cheers:

^^ Road widening progress is good with 206 trees have been already felled so far.
Continuously BREAKING NEWS.... sorry.... CUTTING NEWS will be posted.
:cheers1:

Mangalore: ‘Love Environment with Development’ - Citizens Support MCC Plan
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)

Mangalore, Sep 11: A group of citizens took out a march from Kankanady to Nandigudda Circle on Friday September 11 with the slogan ‘Love Environment with Development’ in support of the Mangalore City Corporation’s (MCC) plan to widen and concrete the road and handed over a memorandum to mayor Shankar Bhat who joined them.

The march started from Fr Muller Hospital and ended near Nandigudda Circle. The marchers demanded that the road work should continue as development was essential along with the need to save trees. The march was led by Yathiraj Shetty, businessman, and one of the directors of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) handed over the memorandum to the mayor.

Bhat joined the march and said that the city corporation is concerned about saving trees and the environment. “But development is the need of the hour as the city is growing in all ways. So, road is taken as a basic necessity for development”, he said adding that the work will continue.

The memorandum demanded that the widening and concrete work should be completed immediately after cutting the trees. It also suggested that the MCC plant trees somewhere else to compensate.

Kiran Shetty, one of the businessmen, said that road development is important. “The congested road causes so many problems whereas a widened road is a sign of development. Environmental knowledge is a must with development and we support the plan of the MCC”, he said.

Residents of Valencia and Marnamikatta area Vivian, Praveen, Melvin D’Souza, and others were present at the march.

It can be recalled that another group had opposed the felling of trees in the name of development and opposed the road plan which would bring down 43 trees on both sides of this road.


City Mayor Irked by Self-styled Environmentalists - Warns of Police Cases

“We will file police cases against the members of some organizations, if they indulge in damaging or destroying the property of Mangalore City Corporation (MCC), in the guise of holding protest against the felling of roadside trees,” warned Mayor Shankar Bhat here at a press meet held here on Thursday September 10.
“Some of the organizations and a section of the media are involved with mud-slinging at the Mangalore City Corporation and blowing things out of proportions, in the matter of cutting down the trees standing on the Kankanady -Morgansgate Road, which is planned to be concreted. It is not proper on the part of the concerned, to take the law in to their hands. Hence, we will lodge cases against the guilty,” he said.

Bhat explained that the road is planned to be widened to seven meters on both sides. Cutting down of trees is not involved with the widening of this road. So, no one need to be worried about the trees till this project is completed. “I cannot foretell what will happen in the future,” he added.

The protestors had removed the median markings on the road, that had been put for concreting purposes, while demanding for the preparation of a new plan to save trees. The mayor said that this act tantamount to taking law into their hands and damaging the MCC property.

Turning his ire the forest department too, Bhat said that the department officials have issued a statement to the media that 206 trees had been cut during this year. But there is no way of saving a tree if it is located on the path of the road taken up for widening. MCC has given eight lac rupees to the forest department to plant trees at the ratio of five saplings per each tree so felled. The amount also includes the maintenance of the saplings, he stated, adding, “we will seek a report from the forest department on this issue’.

Deputy mayor Rajani Dugganna and commissioner Vijayaprakash were also present at the press meet.

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=65539

MANGALORE: Concreting the Shiradi Ghat stretch on the Mangalore-Bangalore National Highway number 48 will begin in November and it will be completed by May next, according to D.V. Sadananda Gowda, MP and president of the State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Mr. Gowda told presspersons here on Friday that the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had revised the cost of concreting the 26-km stretch from Rs. 115 crore to Rs. 118.58 crore. Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, was present. Mr. Gowda said that he had met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Kamal Nath in Delhi recently. The Minister had told the MP that bids would soon be invited for the road work. The additional fund being provided by the Union Government would cover the cost of construction of culverts and protection walls, he said. The stretch between Thokkottu and Talapady on NH 17 would be asphalted at a cost of Rs. 2.45 crore. The stretches between Padubidri and Mulky, and Sasthana and Santhekatte on NH 17 would be asphalted at an estimated cost of Rs. 5.75 crore and Rs. 4.5 crore, Mr. Gowda said.

Stating that the upgrading and concreting of these stretches, to be taken up under the third phase of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP), would take some time for completion, he said the four-lane project was slated to be completed by 2013. The three stretches of the highway could not, however, be left in the existing condition till that time, he said and added that Centre was yet to finalise the contractor for this project. Mr. Gowda urged the Union Government to reserve some funds to maintain these stretches till the four-lane work began.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/12/stories/2009091259780300.htm)

http://mangalorean.com/images/newstemp22/20090813nalin19.jpg

MYSORE, SEPTEMBER, 12, 2009: Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister Shobha Karandlaje on Saturday said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the renovated Mangalore Airport at Bajpe, 15 kms from the City, during world famous Dasara festival which would commence from September 19 for 10 days.

The renovated airport of Mangalore would help to fuel the economic growth in the region as well as provide air connectivity to various parts of the world.

Dr Sing would also inaugurate the Mysore Airport on the same day. The date of inauguration would be finalized soon, she said.

Addressing reporters here, Ms Karandlaje, who is in charge minister for Mysore District, said that Dr Singh would be visiting Mangalore to inaugurate the renovated airport during Dasara and he would inaugurate the Mysore airport too the same day.

"Though we were earlier decided to inaugurate the airport on Monday (Sept. 15), we decided to postpone it to a later date as the Prime Minister has accepted our invitation to inaugurate the airport," she said.


Source: Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=145386)

MANGALORE: The Head Post Office at Pandeshwar here is wearing a new look under the “Project Arrow”. It makes many promises to people such as: Open an account in seven minutes; Deposit your money in two minutes; and get a savings bank certificate in seven minutes.

The renovated post office was inaugurated on Saturday. A charter displayed at the Head Post Office lists out a variety services and claims to make them available to the customers within the time mentioned against each of those services. The new “look and feel” office gives its customers the feel of a modern corporate banking branch under a new logo that reads: “Flying wings”. This logo has been written in bold letters and stuck prominently on the panels of a row of new-look counters.

Postmaster General of South Karnataka Region Vasumitra, who dedicated the office to the public, said even the postal staff could feel better in the renovated workplace and this should result in increased revenue for India Post. Besides the counter services, steps had been taken to raise the efficiency levels in handling account transfer, money order disbursement, and delivery of the mail. Post offices would be provided with adequate funds to ensure prompt delivery of money orders. A system to monitor the quality of all services on a day-to-day basis was in place, he said.

Stating that 95 per cent of the mail was being delivered the same day, he said the delay in delivering the rest was because of non-availability of addressees and difficulty in locating certain addresses.

E-stamp papers

Mr. Vasumitra said that the new post office would offer “e-stamping solutions”. The post office would make electronic stamp papers available to its customers. Under the new guidelines of the Union Government, the system of carrying the stock of stamp papers had been abolished. Instead, they had to be printed instantly and supplied on demand, he pointed out. The post office would continue to accept payments of electricity, telephone, and other bills of public utility services, he added. The 150-year-old Head Post Office was among the 5,000 post offices across the country which had been renovated under the Project Arrow. Besides adopting the “look and feel” concept, the renovated post offices were aimed at establishing a brand for India Post through the new logo. Unlike the previous one, the new logo symbolised dynamism and adoptability to changes, he said.

K.M. Balakrishna, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Mangalore Division, said that the staff of the Pandeshwar Head Office would rise to the occasion and meet the challenges ahead of them.

G.S. Hangund, Senior Postmaster, Mangalore Head Office, was present.


Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/13/stories/2009091358200300.htm)

India Post to offer air parcel service (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/13/stories/2009091358830300.htm)


Core-banking to be introduced; technology partner identified
Department makes foray into accidental and health insurance


Soon, you can bank at the nearest PO (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/bangalore/Soon-you-can-bank-at-the-nearest-PO/articleshow/5004850.cms)

I remember going to this post office. Has very old building and has interior of british style. Hope the new development will try to retain the old interior with all new technology built in it. What ever project it may be railway or IT or infra development mangalore is getting its name. this shows mangalore has good future and going to be growth centre of india.

It is good move that post office are starting the bank, because this has largest reach in india especially in rural india where no one goes except post office.

I have one more suggestion instead of some one writting a letter and sending it through the post. they should start the e-mail servcie to rural india. where any person want to send letter will come to post office and write mail to another post officee with his destination address. the another post office will take print out and deliver to the area. due to this rural area transportation time and cost can be reduced and service can be made faster.
Just a suggestion.

Bangalore, Sep 13 (DHNS): Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel is scheduled to inaugurate the Mysore airport as well as the new integrated terminal building of Mangalore airport on September 22.

The inaugural flight will be of Indian Airlines for the Mysore airport. The Airport Authority of India has taken possession of the Air Traffic Control tower. But clearance from the Director General of Civil Aviation for commissioning of the airport is awaited, according to Mysore Development Commissioner Manivannan.

V Madhu, Principal Secretary, Department of Infrastructure said, “We have only a draft schedule from the civil aviation ministry. The Mysore airport will be ready for commissioning one-and-a-half months after the inauguration”.

Asked whether the Mysore airport will be commercially viable, the officer said, the City being a tourist destination, it will be viable. “It is like chicken and egg story. Unless we have infrastructure facilities, Mysore will not grow. There may not be traffic between Mysore and Bangalore. But tourists may make Mysore as the centre to reach other tourist destinations. Because of the airport, Mysore is also getting good roads.

Jet had shown interest in extending its service to Mysore. Kuwait airlines and Kingfisher too had made enquiries. I am sure the city is bound to grow”, he said.

More landings

He also said that the government was in the process of acquiring another 350 acres of land for the Mysore airport. Of this, 50 pc of the land had already been acquired. At present, ATR 72 can land at the airport. The airport will be developed to accommodate Airbus A320, he added.


File pic : Mangalore airport road

Madhu, referring to the Mangalore airport, said the international terminal of the airport is ready for inauguration. “The terminal is well constructed by the AAI. We are negotiating with Konkan railways to extend its service to the airport. The railway track is just one-and-a-half kms from the airport. We want to develop a traffic hub near the airport so that people from the airport can either take train or railway route to reach their destinations. In the next 15 days, the model will be ready. We may go in for a private-public participation mode for building the hub”.

Sources in the government said that PM Manmohan Singh is expected to be in Bangalore to participate in a defence programme on September 22.

Air parcel serives

India Post, which has changed its style of functioning according to the changed economic scenario, has decided to offer air parcel services within 15 days from now. This was announced by Postmaster-General for South Karnataka region Vasumitra here on Saturday. Mr. Vasumitra launched the Arrow Project at the Mangalore Head Post office.

Addressing the media here, Mr Vasumitra said that India Post would handle air parcels of weighing one kg and above. The Postal Department has been offering air cargo services to the four cities from the IT Capital of India - Bangalore - under the scheme Logistics Post which allowed trans-shipment of consignments weighing more than 25 kg.

He said India Post hoped to make the dispatch of parcels easier and people would be able to put any allowable material and just send it across without any problems.

India Post officials would look into lifting flowers and fish products by air cargo facility. The logistics post parcels could be booked from Mangalore too, but they would be treated as surface cargo up to Bangalore. India Post, which had two aircrafts now, was purchasing more, he pointed out.

India Post may offer debit cards to its accountholders in most post offices by March 2011 and they would be offered in eight post offices across Karnataka in 2009-10. The facility would be extended to all other post offices in the circle in the next fiscal.

Mr. Vasumitra said the department was also looking for the right bridge software to provide people with an online bill payment option. The software used by the service-providers and that used by the bill-receiving agency should be compatible, he said.

The official said Postal Life Insurance was doing well in the market as it provided bonus rates that were much higher than others.

Mangalore Sept 12: Dakshina Kannada is about to get the “Nirmal Gram Puraskar” under the Centrally-sponsored Total Sanitation Campaign programme. To give a fillip to the campaign, the Union Government initiated an incentive scheme “Nirmal Gram Puraskar” for the fully sanitised and open defecation-free gram panchayats, blocks, and districts.

The Dakshina Kannada district is awaiting the visit of a Central team to some of the 23 gram panchayats, which are yet to be certified for having met the guidelines of the programme. The visit is expected anytime after September 15, a meeting to review the progress of development programmes held at the zilla panchayat office here on Friday was told. The Central team will visit 30 per cent of the villages, which are seeking the “Nirmal Gram” tag.

The puraskar aims at recognising the efforts of the panchayat raj and other institutions in achieving total sanitation in their areas of operation. If a panchayat with a population of less than 5,000 qualifies for the award, it gets Rs. 2 lakh and those with population between 5,000 and 10,000 get Rs. 4 lakh. If all gram panchayats under a taluk qualify for the award, such a taluk panchayat will get an incentive of Rs. 20 lakh and the district will get Rs. 50 lakh for such an achievement.

Chief Planning Officer of the zilla pancayat T.J. Takath Rao said that only 23 of the 203 gram panchayats were yet to be certified under the programme. All other gram panchayats had attained this status already, he said.

If the Central team approves the efforts made by the zilla panchayat, the district will attract nationwide, and even international, attention. Mr. Rao said that he hoped that teams from different parts of the country would visit the district to study how it had ensured total sanitation.

Mr. Rao said that the committees, constituted at the village level to supervise cleanliness and water supply, should ensure that all the villages were strictly adhering to the guidelines on a continuous basis. “It will be a matter of pride for Dakshina Kannada to be declared a totally clean district,” he said.

Even though Rs. 115 crores proposal was submitted, central government has sanctioned only Rs. 100 crores. NHAI Engineers from Mangalore-Hassan division are in Delhi to get sanction for the remaining Rs. 15 crores. Without full money there is a technical problem to call for tender.

Source: Udayavani (http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=694947&lang=2)

visnaya, there are two more threads on Mangalore. One is "Mangalore Cityscapes" under "Indian Cityscaped & Photographs" subforum and another is "Mangalore Airport" under "Aviation & Airports" subforum under India forum.

There is also a fourth one in International forum.

Murthy, thanks for info, I will visit them.
Just wanted to know are the information I Posted are ment for this thread or are ment for different thread.

^^ visnaya, there may not be a strict rule, as this is the main thread everything related to Mangalore and Dakshina Kannada could be posted here. But, you may find more information specific to the subject and participants in other threads as the contents there may be more appealing to others also.

I have one more suggestion instead of some one writting a letter and sending it through the post. they should start the e-mail servcie to rural india. where any person want to send letter will come to post office and write mail to another post officee with his destination address. the another post office will take print out and deliver to the area. due to this rural area transportation time and cost can be reduced and service can be made faster.
Just a suggestion.

visnaya, read news on kalampura in "Rural Karnataka" thread.

Shiradi Ghat section opened for traffic (http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/15/stories/2009091558080300.htm)

Delay in Concreting Bunts Hostel-Mallikatta Stretch - Youth Cong Allege BJP of Bias (http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=65668&n_tit=Mangalore%3A+Delay+in+Concreting+Bunts+Hostel-Mallikatta+Stretch+-+Youth+Cong+Allege+BJP+of+Bias)

United Christian Association Conducts Road Repairs with Other Organizations (http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=65694&n_tit=Mangalore%3A+United+Christian+Association+Conducts+Road+Repairs+with+Other+Organizations)

KSIDC, GAIL sign agreement for Kochi-Kanjirakode-Mangalore/ Bangalore pipeline (http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=KSIDC,+GAIL+sign+agreement&artid=mELvBz0HKjE=&SectionID=1ZkF/jmWuSA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=X7s7i%7CxOZ5Y=&SEO=)

Concretization works status
Mission Road to Rao & Rao Circle - road complete, pavement pending
Hamilton Circle to Old Clock Tower Circle - road complete, pavement pending
Nellikayi Road - ?
Kulooru to Kavooru Road - road complete?, pavement pending
Karangalapadi to Bejai Road - road nearing completion, pavement pending
Bejai to Kuntikana Road - road nearing completion, pavement pending
Kuntikana to Kavooru Road - road 10% complete, pavement pending
Bunt's Hostel to Kadri Road - not started
Lower Bendoorwell to Kadri Road - road nearing completion, Horticulture Junction pending, pavement pending
Palneer Road - road 10% complete, pavement pending
Shaktinagara Road - ?
PVS Circle to Navabharatha Circle - not started
Bejai church to Basaweshwara Circle - not started
Monkeystand to Pandeshwara Road - not started
Kankanady to Nandigudde Road - not started, facing opposition due to tree felling
Hampanakatte to Nandigudde Road - not started
Kadrikambala Road - not started?