Mixed response to Bhatkal NH 17 upgradation plan

Bhatkal - Highway Authority of India officials are conducting meetings with the public representatives of the area from where the NH 17 is passing through as a part of its upgradation plan. According to the proposed plan the stretch of 193 km highway from Goa to Kundapur will be converted into a four-lane expressway. As a part of this, NHAI officer Dr. Sarabjeet Singh Deepak met public representatives and social workers at Bhatkal taluka panchayath office yesterday and listen the grievances and suggestions.

It may be interesting to note that majority of the public representatives including Tanzeem were in favour of upgrading the present highway into 4-lane while the Bhatkal Merchant's Association is against this plan and they want to move the proposed new highway out of the town.

In his presidential address Bhatkal MLA Mr. JD Naik said, if the present highway is upgraded, the buildings within 45 m from the road have to be demolished. He also said that, todays meet was not to decide about the location of the highway but it is to collect different opinions about the proposed upgradation plan. The decision about the highway relocation will be taken by the Highway Authority after doing complete survey based on this report.

On this occasion MLA JD Naik, TMC President Inayatullah Shabandri, Taluka Panchayath President Gori Moger and NHAI officials Dr. Sarabjeet, Dr. Sharmila, Engineer Sunil Patil and Highway Architect Arvind were present.

Bhatkallys News , Rizwan Gangavali