Highway work: Hearing against Navayug company

Dakshina Kannada district administration has filed a criminal case against Navayug Udupi Tollways Private Ltd for delaying the four-laning work on NH 66 and started the hearing on the matter.

On the direction of Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil, a criminal case is registered under CrPC Section 133 against Navayug company by Mangaluru Assistant Commissioner Renukaprasad. The first hearing was held on July 17 and next hearing has been posted to July 31. The company was asked to show progress in its work by the next hearing.

The company is facing the charges of failing to complete a slew of works on the NH 66 within a stipulated time, retaining a few dangerous spots on a few stretches leading to accidents, and waterlogging during heavy rain causing inconvenience to the people. In addition, they also face the charge of not adhering to the guidelines of the district administration.

The contract for four-laning the NH 66 from Talapady to Nanthoor Circle, Surathkal Toll Plaza to Sasthana in Kundapura, covering a distance of 90.08-km was entrusted to the Navayug company. Accordingly, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Navayug Udupi Tollways Private Ltd (a special purpose vehicle created for the project) had signed an agreement on March 9, 2010.

The company was entrusted with the work on the design, engineering, investment, construction, operation and maintenance. The work was started in September 2010. According to the agreement, the road work should have been completed within two-and-a-half years. But even after seven years, the work is still moving in a snail’s pace, thus causing inconvenience to the citizens of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

The delay in the completion of flyovers at Pumpwell and Thokkottu is causing problems to the people.

The incomplete work on the road has resulted in a series of accidents. The guidelines, issued by the district administration and the state government, have not been followed by the company.

Minister for Urban Development U T Khader, during a review meeting on June 30, had directed the officials to book a criminal case against the concerned. The officials during the meeting had sought time till March 2019 to complete the work.

Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil said, “The AC court will hear the case against the Navayug company. The hearing will continue till they accelerate the work and keep the construction sites safe.”

Looking at the inconvenience met by the citizens, an enquiry is being conducted. The company has been directed to complete the work at the earliest and maintain the road.

When asked on the hearing, Navayug Company senior officer Shankar Rao said, “The company has deputed an advocate and he will reply to the authorities.”