Urban News

The project was estimated to be constructed at a cost of Rs 39 lakh.

Meanwhile, the CMC has resolved to appeal to the KUIDFC to divert the said funds (Rs 39 lakh) to concretise roads under KMRP scheme. Though the CMC itself had obtained the Council nod to construct the pedestrian way under KMRP scheme in 2008-09, the CMC did not satisfy the design submitted by the consultants.

It is said that the design provided by the consultants was not suitable for the roads in Kodagu as the region receives heavy rainfall during the monsoons.

While the design was prepared for the whole State, the case of Kodagu is different. On the other hand, if at all the design has to be changed or modified, the rules state that it should obtain permission from the World Bank. In these background and technical hitches, the KUIDFC has written a letter to the CMC to cancel the project. On the other hand, if the project was implemented, then the main road would have to be closed for about nine months. The huge loss the traders would have suffered in case of the closure of the road too has been taken into account while taking a decision, it is said.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, CMC Commissioner Srikanth Rao and Standing Committee President Prakash said that the CMC would soon submit a proposal to the KUIDFC on the Rs 39 lakh funds, after discussing the same in the district-level project implementation committee meeting. They also said that the CMC is contemplating to use the Rs 39 lakh funds to concretise the roads in the City.

While the CMC has dropped its plan, the traders who had staged protest against evacuating their land for the project, have heaved a sigh of relief.