Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (NP)
Udupi, Jul 7: A protest was organized here by the public near the Narayana Guru Mandir junction in Kelaparkala, condemning the poor condition of National Highway 169-A in the region.
Addressing the gathering during the protest, Dr P V Bhandary, a psychiatrist and social activist, expressed deep concern over the worsening condition of the roads in the Parkala area. He said, “The ongoing hardship faced by the public due to the deteriorated roads is unacceptable. Continuous rainfall has only made things worse, and the roads have now become completely unfit for vehicular movement. Immediate action is needed to make them motorable again.”
He further stated, “I have observed that elected representatives have been misleading the public by giving false assurances about the highway project. They keep citing a High Court case as the reason for the delay, but I want to make it clear that the road we are talking about is not part of any land under litigation. The problem lies with the existing old road, which is supposed to be maintained by the contractor handling the National Highway project. Unfortunately, there has been no maintenance at all. This negligence has caused severe inconvenience to the people of this area.”
He added, “It is disheartening to see both officials and public representatives try to throw dust in the eyes of the people with such excuses. This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated anymore. This protest is not political. We are not targeting any specific official or leader. We are simply demanding justice. Our demand is straightforward — to repair the existing road and make it suitable for public use without any further delay. This is only the first phase of our agitation. If the Parkala–Manipal road is not repaired and made fit for smooth traffic movement within the next four weeks, we will be forced to intensify our protest. We will carry out stronger measures including a protest at the Deputy Commissioner's office and road blockades. We are fighting for our basic right — the right to safe and accessible roads. And we will continue this struggle until our voices are heard.”
The protest saw the participation of community leaders Amruth Shenoy, Jaivithal, Ansar Ahmed, Ramesh Kanchan, Dr Sulatha Bhandary, Manjunath Upadhya, and others from various local organizations and residents of Parkala and Manjunath Nagar.