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Even as there are rumblings of discontent even before the work on the four-laning of the NH 169 between Mangaluru and Karkala is taken up, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has said that the decision to reduce the width of the road cannot be taken unilaterally.

Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai on Saturday had asked the NHAI to restrict the width of the highway to 30 metres instead of 45 metres at most of the places between Mangaluru and Moodbidri as there was opposition from many quarters.

A senior official with NHAI told The Hindu that reduction in the width depends on factors such as traffic and feasibility. The decision to widen a particular road would be taken after considering factors such as the present and projected traffic on the stretch. The feasibility factor would come into the picture too.

The authority would reassess the situation, look at the feasibility of reducing the width and thereafter report to the headquarters. A final decision would have to be taken at the level of the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, the official said.

Meanwhile, as per the preliminary notification issued on May 20 for land acquisition on the basis of the detailed project report for the project, 1,288 structures, including houses, business establishments and religious places would have to be demolished for the four-lane project. The 47 km four-lane road would be 45 metres wide between Padavu village in Mangaluru and Moodbidri and 30 metres wide between Moodbidri and Sanoor village in Karkala. It would also have bypass roads at Gurupura and Moodbidri. In all, the project would require acquisition of 448.8 acres of land, 307.28 acres private and 141.52 acres of government, lands.

353 objections

As many as 353 objections were filed for the land acquisition notification. A majority of applicants had objected to the NHAI’s move to measure the outer extent of the required land from the border of the existing road, instead of the standard practice of measuring it from the middle of the existing road. Those opposing such a move said though they were for development, unscientific alignment had bothered them. As such, the road width between Mangaluru and Moodbidri should also be restricted to 30 metres and there could not be double standards, the residents said.