Udupi: No information on Agumbe Tunnel Project DPR, says district administration

Team Udayavani, May 20, 2024, 2:52 PM IST

The Udupi district administration has not received any information about the National Highway Authority approving the plan to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for a tunnel in the Agumbe Ghat.

This tunnel aims to improve connectivity between the coastal region and hilly districts.

NHAI officials have said that a proposal for a 12 km tunnel costing around Rs 3,500 crore was submitted. The tender process for preparing the DPR is ongoing, with Rs 2 crore set aside for this purpose. Since the tunnel will be on the border of Udupi and Shimoga districts, coordination between these two districts is crucial.

However, Udupi district administration said it does not have any information about the tunnel. “No information has been given to the Udupi district administration regarding the construction of the tunnel in Agumbe. It has not been brought to the attention of the district administration that a proposal has been sent in this regard. There is no information about the tunnel, and no official proposal or correspondence has been made by the Udupi district administration,” clarified Udupi DC Dr K. Vidyakumari.

The Agumbe Ghat starts from Hebri Someshwar in Udupi district. The tunnel will start from here and end at Megaravalli in Tirthahalli taluk, spanning about 12 km. The central government had earlier rejected the tunnel proposal, and its revival has sparked much debate.

Concerns Over Biodiversity

The Western Ghats are home to many endemic species. Building a tunnel here could cause many problems in the future. Moreover, rain in Agumbe benefits both coastal and hilly areas. Some people believe that the tunnel might harm the environment and affect river flows. There are strong arguments against the tunnel to protect biodiversity.

Officials say that the DPR must be prepared before the project can start. If the project harms biodiversity, it cannot be implemented.