Latest news with #RuBs
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Lack of coordination between Railways and Smart City delayed twin RuB commissioning: Chowta
Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta told officials of Mangaluru Smart City Ltd. and the Southern Railway to work in coordination to commission the twin Railway Underbridges (RuBs) on Morgan's Gate-Jeppinamogaru Road at Mahakalipadpu in the city. Visiting the worksite with Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyasa Kamath on Wednesday, Capt. Chowta said the delay in completing the project appeared to have been caused by the absence of coordination between the Railways and the MSCL. Even though the Railways pushed the concrete boxes for the RuB, concreting of the underpasses and approach roads could not be completed, he regretted. Meanwhile, Smart City officials blamed untimely rains for the delay in commissioning the RuBs and said that water stagnation in the underpass was hindering the completion of the approach roads. Railways has to lay a pipeline to pump and drain out stagnant water towards the Netravathi, after which the approach roads could be completed, they said. Notwithstanding these claims, the officials promised to open at least one carriageway of the underpass for traffic by July 15. The Hindu had reported on June 2 about the opening of the RuBs, work on which had started in March 2021, getting stalled and thereby forcing people to endure the inconvenience indefinitely. The then MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and Mr. Kamath had laid the foundation stone for the twin RuB project under 'deposit' scheme with the MSCL depositing ₹30.7 crore for the RuBs with the Railways, and the MP getting ₹19.87 crore from the MPLAD funds for the construction of the 1.07 km four-lane road. The work did not gain momentum for nearly a year thereafter and picked up only after December 2022, when the Railways closed the Mahakalipadpu Railway Level Crossing to all vehicles, except two-wheelers.
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Concrete boxes pushing complete, but Mahakalipadpu twin RuB not commissioned
Notwithstanding about three weeks at its disposal to complete the approach roads for the twin Railway Under Bridge (RuB) at Mahakalipadpu, the Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL) has been unable to do the job, thereby indefinitely postponing commissioning of the crucial RuB. While Southern Railway's Palakkad division had completed pushing the last of the four concrete boxes for the twin RuB on April 17, and removed the last girder beneath the Mangaluru Central-Shoranur Down line on April 23, MSCL has completed only a portion of the approach road on Jeppinamogaru side. Work on the approach road at Morgan's Gate side was yet to commence, by which time rains began lashing the coast. MSCL had promised to facilitate commissioning of the twin RuB by May-end, thereby ending over four years' ordeal of thousands of road users in Mangaluru who were forced to take a detour via Pumpwell Circle all these days. With rains arriving at the coast much earlier than expected, the MSLC had to stop work on the approach road. Working in dry spells Blaming rains that started on May 15 for the incomplete approach roads, a senior MSCL official said the Smart City would get the road work completed during dry spell projected till June 14. The Railways has to lay a water drain pipeline to pump out water from the RuB till Netravati river, following which work on the approach road on Morgan's Gate side would be taken up, he said. The MSCL and the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) are to complete approach roads from the existing railway level crossing towards the twin RuBs, as the Railways would close the level crossing gate once the RuBs are commissioned. MSCL has also proposed to continue one of the two approach roads on the Moily Kere stretch till Netravati river to connect the Netravati promenade. In-charge Deputy Commissioner K. Anandh said he would instruct MSCL to complete the work on the approach roads at the earliest. Critical works over Divisional Railway Manager Arun Kumar Chaturvedi told The Hindu that the Railways has already completed all critical works, including pushing of the boxes, on its part. 'The drain line to Netravati river could be laid once the Mangaluru City Corporation shifts a water piepline in the path. It is a day's work,' he said.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Massive traffic jams feared at Pandeshwar level crossing after commissioning of Mahakalipadpu twin RuBs in Mangaluru
With over four years of work on the twin Railway Under Bridge at Mahakalipadpu in south Mangaluru nearing completion, some residents have raised concerns over the possible traffic jams at Pandeshwar Level Crossing on Mangaladevi Road once the RuBs are commissioned. 'After the RuBs are commissioned, all kinds of vehicles between the Central Business District (CBD) and southern parts of Mangaluru, including Kasargod, will start using the Jeppinamogaru-Morgan's Gate-Mangaladevi stretch. With the Pandeshwar Level Crossing on Mangaladevi Road still operational, one can expect massive traffic jams whenever the LC gate is closed,' said Guru Prasad, a resident of Bolara. Mr. Prasad told The Hindu that though the goods shed was shifted from Bunder Yard to Ullal, Southern Railway's Palakkad division continues to use Bunder Yard for stabling passenger trains. As a consequence, the Pandeshwar LC Gate gets closed a few times in a day. With the narrow LC gate coupled with an increase of vehicular traffic after opening of Mahakalipadpu twin RuB, vehicles might pile up till Mangaladevi temple and A. B. Shetty Circle on both the ends, he fears. Relocate staff quarters He said citizens, through then member of parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel and the present MP Captain Brijesh Chowta, had urged the Southern Railway to relocate its staff quarters and offices not connected with train operations to Bunder Yard. These offices are located next to Mangaluru Central Railway Station. This was because the railways had already ruled out the possibility of constructing an RuB at Pandeshwar following the presence of a major storm water drain while a Rail Over Bridge is not possible for want of land on either side of the road. The only alternative to avoid traffic snarls is to halt operation of trains to Bunder Yard and eliminate the LC Gate, he said. RuBs will be commissioned by end of May A senior Mangaluru Smart City Limited officer told The Hindu that everything is in place to commission the RuBs by the end of May. While the Railways pushed the last of the four concrete boxes beneath the Shoranur-Mangaluru Central line on April 17, it was providing finishing touches inside the boxes, including concrete paving and pedestrian paths. MSLCL has commenced work on the approach roads, which should be completed soon, the officer said.
