Mangaluru: Ullal town in speaker UT Khader’s constituency was sanctioned a mega underground power cable project, which will be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 186 crore.Khader, MLA of Mangaluru constituency, told reporters on Saturday that the work will commence shortly after the tender process.
“The process of floating tenders is underway for the underground power cabling work. The project is also a part of the beautification of Ullal town. Once the work is completed, Ullal town will be free of live overhead electricity cables. While high-tension and low-tension electricity lines pass above houses and terraces of buildings, posing danger to citizens, electric poles in some places are located inside the compound walls of residences,” he said.It is difficult for Mescom to shift electric poles and power lines due to lack of space. The underground cabling project will solve the issue, he said, adding that the project will be taken up through the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL).Khader said that an additional Rs 60 crore was sanctioned to take up a similar project in Mangaluru city. Further, to ensure an uninterrupted power supply in Ullal, the capacity of the existing 33KV substation will be upgraded to 110KV at an estimated cost of Rs 96 crore, he said.On the proposed bridge between Kotepura in Ullal and Bolar in Mangaluru across the Nethravati River, Khader said that the tenders will be floated for the Rs 252 crore project soon. The 1.5km bridge will be designed to provide closer views of the Arabian Sea, and it will be developed with a major focus on tourism development. Facilities such as hotels, restaurants and parks will be developed beneath the bridge. On weekends, traffic movement will not be allowed on the bridge between 4pm and 8pm to facilitate tourism activities, he said.A bridge will be constructed across the Nethravati River between Sajipa and Thumbe at an estimated cost of Rs 62 crore.Foundation ceremonyKannada and culture minister Shivaraj S Tangadagi will lay the foundation for the Abbakka Bhavana and Beary Bhavana in the Mangaluru constituency tentatively on Feb 15. While Rs 8 crore was sanctioned for Abbakka Bhavana and Rs 6 crore was sanctioned for Beary Bhavana, Khader said.
