Mysore/Mysuru: Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha held a meeting with concerned officials on expediting the four-lane Mysuru-Kushalnagar Highway at Bengaluru on Thursday.
The MP held the meeting at the NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) Regional office in the State Capital, which was attended by Chief Engineer Vivek Jaiswal and officials from the executing company (Dileep Buildcon).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for the 93-km Mysuru-Kushalnagar Highway project in March this year. The project is estimated to cost Rs. 4,130 crore.
The works of the project will be taken up in two packages — One from Paschimavahini near Srirangapatna to Periyapatna and the other from Periyapatna to Guddehosur. The Highway will link the Mysuru-Bengaluru Expressway at Paschimavahini.
During the meeting, Pratap Simha is said to have told officials of Dileep Buildcon to construct storm water drainage to ensure that the road does not get flooded during rains. Simha had cited the Induvalu underpass issue of Mysuru-Bengaluru Expressway as rain water used to create a lot of problems for the villagers.
Great initiative and good suggestion by our Hon’ble MP Sri. Pratap Simha. Because of global warming and consequent climate change besides loss of vegetation/trees, the rainfall patterns have become erratic and irregular. Sometimes we receive more than the normal rain in the shortest window and causing major flooding and disruption. Highway Drainage and Waterway analysis must be given careful consideration by hydrology and hydraulics experts of the authority (NHAI). Once the highway is built, there will be further development in the region, which leads to further loss of vegetation due to increased ground cover consequently increasing the surface flow and exacerbating the situation. It is safer to take a more conservative approach when it comes to making provisions for flooding and drainage on a highway. Needs a bit of foresight.
Since we can not predict future developments with 100% certainty, my suggestion would be to ensure that the road alignment be done in such a way that the maximum height of the embankment (fill) does not exceed 4m -5m. If it exceeds 5m, increase the length of the bridge by providing one more span or provide more spans of a large size box/pipe culverts as appropriate. In doing so, we will achieve greater linear waterway for passage of sudden and unprecedented floods.
Further ensure that the size of the scuppers and drainage vents are sufficiently large and generous with well designed(hydraulic profiles) inlets, good cross fall on bridges and pavements to enable the pavements to drain quickly. It will also to provide easy access for maintenance and cleaning of drainage vents and scuppers. Regular inspection and maintenance of these vents to prevent blockage is critical.
This time plan project with proper exits in such a way that there are no traffic bottlenecks at paschimvahini the starting point and guddehosur the end point.