Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jan 11: Under the aegis of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), a protest was organized on Tuesday January 10 by way of blocking traffic on national highway 66 at Panambur for some time.

The protestors demanded construction of underpass at Panambur Circle on national highway, as scores of people are compelled to cross the road here every day. They also asked New Mangalore Port Trust to streamline movement of trucks at Jokatte Junction, where traffic chaos has been the order of the day.

Addressing the protestors, MLA, K Abhay Chandra Jain, INTUC district president, Rakesh malli, INTUC state general secretary K Sadashiva Shetty, and Congress leader, B M Moidin Bawa, accused the concerned of lack of foresight while expanding the highway. They pointed out that about 10,000 residents and 3,500 students cross Panambur Circle every day, and that the circle has developed into an accident spot.  “Although New Mangalore Port Trust paid Rs 20 crore to National Highways Authority of India, the underpass was not laid due to lack of foresight,” they claimed. They also demanded NMPT to lay a separate road for the movement of tippers and trucks transporting goods to and from NMPT. The protestors also lamented that the system of signal lights erected by spending about Rs 15 lac here has become redundant.

INTUC leaders like city corporator, K Harish, Gulzar Banu, Nagendra, former mayor, Purandaradas Kulur, Rajesh Bengre, and others were present. Shashiraj Ambat compered the programme. It was decided to resort to sterner forms of protest if the above demands are not met at the earliest.