Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal

Bantwal, Aug 10: The Vittal-Kanyana road has become completely riddled with potholes, causing immense hardship for motorists. Frustrated by the administration's apathy, locals have expressed their outrage by putting up satirical posters along the roadside.

This route serves as a major connecting highway from Vittal to Bairikatte and Kanyana, further linking to Uppala and Manjeshwar in Kerala. Over a thousand vehicles ply this route daily. The stretch between Kanathadka and Kanyana features sharp curves, flanked by a reserve forest on one side and a steep gorge on the other. Navigating the road becomes a perilous struggle, especially when two heavy vehicles pass each other.

Last year, a similar situation arose when huge potholes developed on the same stretch. The public had then made headlines by erecting a signboard announcing the 'funeral' of the officials to mock their inaction. Following the uproar, the authorities carried out temporary patchwork. Now, with the ongoing monsoon, the road is completely battered once again, prompting urgent demands for permanent development.

Furthermore, hundreds of lorries transporting bauxite soil from the Kanyana-Karopadi villages use this road daily, contributing heavily to its rapid deterioration. The excessive traffic, which is well beyond the road's load-bearing capacity, is also causing the edges of the road to cave in.

The villagers have warned of staging a massive protest if the concerned department fails to address and rectify the issue immediately.