Congested Barkoor Town Needs Better Traffic Planning

By Suvarna Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)

Udupi, Jul 4: Several dangerous curves lie on the Brahmavar-Barkoor–Halady Road, near here. Heavy vehicles laden with road-building materials for four-lane conversion work are posing a threat to the general public.

A minor bridge was built across a rivulet by acquiring land in order to link the villages of Handady, Herady, Yedtady, Kallady, Shiriyara, and Gavali with Barkoor.  Traffic was limited in the past, but as Barkoor town grew the congestion necessitated the need for broadening the roads.

Roads threatened to collapse?

The heavy vehicles supplying materials for the national highway four-lane work with maximum tonnage are worsening the state of a road that is on the verge of collapse claim the locals.

Barkoor – traffic congested town

Barkoor is a small town where traffic was very limited.  Traffic in the recent past grown significantly and causes severe traffic bottlenecks since shops are situated close to the road that has to accommodate parking of auto rickshaws, cars, and other vehicles.  Hundreds of buses, trucks, and tankers are plying through Brahmavar via Hulikal Ghat towards Shimoga and Sagar since this route is the shortest.  Overnight passenger buses are plying on the Barkoor-Saibarakatte – Jannady route. 

Many culverts that were built in 1970, before building Barkoor bridge, are in a deplorable state.  Although the elected representatives daily ply on this road, none of them has taken this issue seriously.  The families living on the edge of the road are severely affected as the heavy vehicles are likely to raze their houses.  The locals are urging the department to acquire their lands for broadening the roads in their neighbourhood.

“If the Barkoor Kelapete is developed, traffic will improve on the national highway,” says Koodli Satyanarayan Udupa.

“If the outskirts of Barkoor town are developed, it will improve traffic,” says Ganesh Kunder.
“Several memorandums were presented to the district administration for broadening roads in Barkoor town.  If the works are further delayed, the locals will stage a united struggle,” says Satish Poojary Barkoor.

“The congestion in Barkoor town stresses the need for undertaking widening works of roads,” says Satish Shetty Yedtady.