Pics: Nayana J C

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (NJC)

Mangaluru, Jun 20: The National Highway service road stretching from Kulur to Baikampady has failed to serve its intended purpose, transforming into a hazardous and unauthorised parking zone, fuelling widespread public frustration.

A ground inspection of the area reveals that a route meant to ease local transit and shield commuters from highway traffic is instead being used as a parking and refuelling bay for heavy commercial vehicles, allegedly facilitated by local business establishments.

Local petrol pump owners along the stretch have reportedly placed unauthorised barricades on the public service road, effectively treating government land as an extension of their businesses.

Massive multi-axle trailers and heavy trucks continuously line up along the route to refuel with diesel, creating a blockade that prevents ordinary cars and two-wheelers from passing through. For commuters travelling from Kulur to Baikampady, a journey that should take only a few minutes now extends to one or two hours, forcing drivers to wait indefinitely or make dangerous manoeuvres.

As the service road remains blocked, local residents are left with no choice but to risk their safety by entering the high-speed main lanes of the National Highway even for short-distance travel. Compounding the problem is the poor condition of the infrastructure. The service road is riddled with deep potholes and flanked by exposed open storm-water drains. Locals warn that navigating the stretch at night is extremely dangerous, as a minor lapse in visibility could cause a vehicle to plunge into an open drain.

This ongoing situation persists despite explicit directives from senior officials. Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta has repeatedly instructed authorities during review meetings to keep all service roads clear and fully accessible to the public, while Mangaluru police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy has also issued multiple enforcement warnings. Despite these directions, officials of the National Highways Authority of India and local field officers have failed to implement the rules on the ground, prompting residents to question why authorities continue to turn a blind eye.

Frustrated residents and regular commuters are now demanding immediate intervention from both the Mangaluru police and highway authorities. The local community has called for the removal of all illegal barricades, strict penalties and towing of unauthorised trucks, and urgent repairs to cover the open drains and restore the damaged road before a fatal accident occurs.