Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/EP)
Udupi, Sep 16: Karnataka Rakshna Vedike, Karnataka Karmika Vedike and others held protests at Manipal Tiger circle on Saturday September 16 in the middle of the circle urging for urgent repairs of road at Manipal junction.
The strip is a part of Malpe to Shivamogga Thirthahalli highway. The road has been washed out due to heavy rain. The road has been tarred or concretized for years.
This road was under PWD jurisdiction during 2014 and was upgraded as national highway and handed over to national highway of authority by PWD in March 2015.
Protesters of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike said that the road has not been repaired since 2014. “Several complaints to MP Shobha Karandlaje have been futile”, they alleged.
Ansar Ahmed, district president of KRV alleged that the MP has remained indifferent to the woes of commuters. “Though she conducts rallies in Bengaluru and other places, she is not approachable in Udupi. Who will be responsible for accidents and loss of life here? Stones have come up on road from Tiger circle to Syndicate bank. Why cannot the people representatives see the problem? They should not indulge in politics here,” he said.
Ravi Shetty, KRV district president said that they will not move from the spot until the concerned officials come there. “Why those in power are pressurizing small officials for those works which can be done only by higher officials? It is cowardice,” he said.
Prasanna Kumar Shetty, state convener of KRV said that there is a hospital nearby and patients are put to hardship, but officials are acting as if they are not concerned.
Manjunath Nayak, assistant engineer of national highways, Sringeri division said that the road needs to be resurfaced. “Malpe to Thirthahalli road is ready for laying concrete. It is a project of Rs 636 crores. The gazette notification is out and the land is surveyed. But the survey number for land acquisition is not available,” he said.
The association had given a deadline till September end. But the officials said that it is not possible due to rain. The road from Parkala school to Malpe will be four lane. It will be two lane roads in Manipal. The funds for the project are yet to be released.
The protests were called off as officials arrived in time to brief the protesters.