Sorry, no money to repair Suratkal-Kana road: MRPL replies to MCC

executive@coastaldigest.com (CD Network)
October 5, 2016

Mangaluru, Oct 5: The Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) has turned down the demand of Mangaluru City Corporation to take up the repair work of the notorious Suratkal-Kana road, saying that many other bigger companies are operating heavy vehicles on the same road.

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The Mayor of MCC, Harinath earlier held the giant bullet tankers plying to and from MRPL for the pathetic condition of the 4.5-km stretch from Suratkal junction to Kana and set a 20 day deadline for the company to take up the repair work. The Mayor also has written letters the Karnataka CM and Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner to pressurise the MRPL to use its corporate social responsibility fund for the purpose.

Responding to the Mayor's demand, MRPL Managing Director H Kumar said that neither his company was in a position to spend money for the repair works of the road, nor it can use the CSR fund for the purpose.

He also said that the MRPL had spent Rs. 1.5 crore in 2010 to repair the same road and maintained it for two years as a one-time measure. Recently, MRPL, along with MSEZ Ltd., reconstructed the Kana-Jokatte Road with concrete at a cost of Rs 30 crore, he said.

Mr Kumar also said that MRPL alone cannot be held responsible for the operation of all bullet tankers on the road as those tankers were being operated by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. “Those companies are bigger than MRPL,” he said.

The MD said that he has already written to MCC expressing the inability of the company to repair or reconstruct the road. He also suggested that the authorities could examine private investment in reconstruction of the road and levy toll, up to Rs. 200, for bullet tankers for using the road while exempting local vehicle users.

Protest march

Meanwhile, the Nagarika Horata Samithi, Kana, has said that it would take out a padayatra to MRPL, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and BASF on October 6 to press for repairs to the road.

In a press release, convener of the samithi B.K. Imtiyaz alleged that heavy vehicles operating to and from the companies were responsible for the poor condition of the road.

Mr Imtiyaz also slammed local MLA B A Mohiuddin Bava for responding to the problems being faced by the people due to the worn out stretch of the road. “The MLA is giving priority to the road leading to his house than this public road,” he alleged.

Also Read: Your giant vehicles spoiled Suratkal-Kana road; repair it now: Mayor to MRPL

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Comments

Abbu Beary
 - 
Wednesday, 5 Oct 2016

And the blame game continued. Sufferings of the people too.

Surgical Kotian
 - 
Wednesday, 5 Oct 2016

Paapa, badava, angilla, chaddilla. hogache.

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News Network
May 2,2025

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada district has secured the top position in Karnataka in the SSLC (Class 10) results for the academic year 2024–25, with a pass percentage of 91.12%, as announced on Friday.

In the previous academic year (2023–24), the district had ranked second in the state with a higher pass percentage of 92.12%. Despite a 1% drop in the pass rate this year, the district has risen to the top position. In 2022–23, it had ranked 17th with 89.52%.

Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) Venkatesh S Patagar attributed the district’s improved rank to several focused initiatives. Among them were the timely completion of the syllabus by December 2024 and subject-wise special classes.

Special attention was given to slow learners through dedicated support classes. The department also organized fortnightly parent meetings to track students' academic progress.

To instill discipline and a consistent study routine, schools made regular wake-up calls to students in the mornings and evenings. Other initiatives included model question paper practice, the 'Jnana Sinchana' live YouTube series, online doubt-clearing sessions, and interactive radio phone-in programs.

Students were also encouraged to attempt the 'Vijayeebhava' question paper series, developed and published by the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Udupi.

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News Network
May 10,2025

Mangaluru, May 10: A new chapter in Mangaluru’s infrastructure story unfolds on May 16, as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah arrives to inaugurate two transformative projects: the newly built Deputy Commissioner’s Office at Padil and a world-class indoor stadium at Urwa.

These developments signal a strong push toward better governance and enhanced urban amenities in the coastal city.

₹75 Crore DC Office

The new DC Office, spread across a modern campus at Padil, comes with a price tag of ₹75 crore. Initially budgeted at ₹55 crore, the project received an additional ₹20 crore under the Smart City Mission, aimed at integrating technology and convenience in public administration.

“This facility reflects our vision of a centralized, people-friendly government. With 23 departments under one roof, citizens can now access services more efficiently,” said District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.

The phased relocation of departments will begin on the day of inauguration and be completed over the next 2 to 3 weeks.

₹35 Crore Indoor Stadium Opens Doors

Also on the agenda is the grand opening of Mangaluru’s new indoor sports complex in Urwa, built for ₹35 crore. This ultra-modern facility is equipped to host national-level indoor events and will offer quality training infrastructure for emerging sports talent in the region.

Initiated during Siddaramaiah’s previous term, both the stadium and DC Office projects are now ready for public use and are expected to create lasting impact.

“These projects are not just buildings. They are investments in governance, youth, and the future of Mangaluru,” said Rao.

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coastaldigest.com news network
April 30,2025

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Mangaluru, April 30: The Netravati bridge at Jeppinamogaru, which had been closed for repair works since March 19, is set to reopen for vehicular traffic from May 2, police commissioner Anupam Agrawal announced.

Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) confirmed that the bridge repairs are now complete. A new bearing has been installed in one of the bridge’s pillars, and all necessary structural maintenance has been carried out. Currently, the concrete curing process is in its final stages and is expected to conclude within the next two days, paving the way for the bridge to reopen as scheduled.

The closure of the old Netravati bridge had led to severe daily traffic congestion, as vehicles were diverted to the newly constructed parallel bridge on National Highway 66, where two-way traffic was temporarily permitted. Traffic jams were especially intense during peak morning and evening hours, causing vehicle queues that often stretched from Pumpwell and Kallapu to the Thokkottu flyover. Even emergency vehicles faced difficulties navigating through the gridlock.

To manage the situation, light vehicles heading towards Deralakatte and Konaje — or traveling towards Mangaluru from these areas — were diverted via the Harekala-Pavoor bridge. However, this alternate route also witnessed significant congestion during rush hours. As a result, many commuters, especially those traveling from Thokkottu, Talapady, and Kerala, were forced to start their journeys at least an hour earlier than usual.

The public had been urging authorities to expedite the repair works to ease traffic woes. With the bridge now ready to reopen, commuters can expect a significant improvement in traffic flow along the busy corridor from May 2 onward.

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