Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Jan 21: In yet another instance of administrative apathy causing hardship to the public, authorities took nearly a month to restore a stretch of road that was dug up for manhole repair on the busy Kalsanka–Ambagilu Road near Silas School.

Following a series of reports by Daijiworld.com on damaged manholes that were causing severe traffic congestion and posing a danger to commuters, the concerned department finally undertook repair work in the last week of December 2025. While the manhole repair itself was completed, the road excavated for the work was left unattended for more than 20 days, raising serious safety concerns among motorists and local residents.

Instead of being properly tarred or levelled, the dug-up portion of the road was merely filled with loose gravel. This created extremely hazardous driving conditions, especially for two-wheeler riders, who faced a constant risk of skidding. Several motorists reported near-miss incidents, particularly during peak hours and at night, when visibility was poor.

The Kalsanka–Ambagilu Road is a key arterial route frequently used by school buses, pedestrians, private vehicles, and public transport. Despite the completion of the manhole repair work, authorities failed to act promptly to restore the road to its original condition.

Residents pointed out that the problem did not end with repairing the manhole, as leaving the road surface filled with loose gravel posed an equal threat to public safety.

Public frustration mounted as days passed without any follow-up action. Only after repeated complaints from residents and continued highlighting of the issue did the authorities finally initiate road restoration work, more than 20 days after the manhole repair was completed.

The delayed response has once again raised questions over inter-departmental coordination and accountability in public infrastructure works.

Residents have demanded that road restoration be taken up immediately after any underground work and that strict timelines be enforced to prevent such prolonged inconvenience and safety risks in the future.