Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Sept 2: Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary has come down heavily on National Highway contractors and officials, warning them that collecting tolls from the public without ensuring road safety is unacceptable.

"Toll collection cannot be your only job — ensure smooth and safe travel too," he told them sternly during a high-level review meeting.

Chairing a meeting at Rajathadri Hall in Manipal to assess the progress of ongoing works on National Highway 66, the MP raised alarm over the rising number of fatalities. “In the past two years, the highway has witnessed over 250 accidents, and in just the last two months, eight people have died on the spot,” he said.

“Contractors should not limit their responsibilities to toll booths. Immediate, scientific interventions are needed at accident-prone black spots. Install streetlights, put up proper signage, and implement these measures within a month,” he directed.

The MP highlighted the urgent requirement for service roads along the 66-km stretch from Hejamady to Kundapura. He noted that approval has already been granted for a 26-km service road between Koteshwar and Hejamady, along with three foot-overbridges. Over 70% of the necessary materials are in stock, and construction should commence without further delay, he added.

Plans are also in motion for the construction of flyovers at Padubidri, Brahmavar, and Kota. Poojary urged National Highways Authority officials to speed up preparation and submission of the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to ensure timely approval from the central government. “Once the DPRs are in, approval will follow. Act swiftly,” he emphasised.

He also instructed that project information boards must be installed at all work sites, allowing the public to track progress. Referring to complaints from Padubidri, he said poor maintenance of street lighting had led to several accidents and demanded that these issues be rectified as a priority.

“If accidents are caused due to negligence, both officials and contractors will be held accountable,” the MP warned.

Deputy Commissioner Swaroopa T K admitted that many of the installed streetlights on the highway were insufficiently bright. He suggested replacing them with bulbs of at least 240 volts luminosity to improve night-time visibility and prevent mishaps.

MLA Yashpal Suvarna drew attention to the pending land acquisition for service roads between Udyavara and Balaipade, while MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty called for the Padubidri flyover project to be prioritised to reduce the frequency of serious accidents.

Members of the National Highway Protection Committee also voiced strong concerns and submitted demands for additional service roads, flyovers, proper median openings, and functional street lighting, particularly within the Brahmavar town limits, where road safety remains a pressing issue.

Also present at the meeting were superintendent of police Hariram Shankar, assistant commissioner Rashmi, NHAI project director Abdullah Mohammad Azmi, district-level officials, engineers, contractors, and committee representatives.