Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal

Bantwal, Aug 11: The Vittal-Kanyana road has been reduced to a stretch full of potholes, causing daily hardship to motorists. Amid the poor condition of the road, the public has expressed its anger by putting up satirical cartoons along the roadside mocking officials over the road’s poor state.

The road connecting Vittal with Bairikatte, Kanyana, Uppala and Manjeshwar in Kasargod district is an important inter-state route. More than 1,000 vehicles travel on this road every day.

The stretch from Kanathadka to Kanyana has several curves. While one side of the road is a reserve forest, the other side has a steep drop. When two vehicles travelling on the narrow road approach each other, drivers have to struggle to pass. The fact that the road is now filled with potholes has made it an even greater challenge for motorists.

The road had developed potholes last year as well, following which the public had expressed its anger against the authorities by putting up a signboard reading ‘Shava Samskara’ (funeral) on the road. The incident had made news. Subsequently, the potholes were repaired.

However, the road has now become completely pothole-ridden during the monsoon, prompting renewed demands for its immediate development.

Hundreds of trucks carrying bauxite soil travel every day from Kanyana-Karopady village. This is also one of the reasons for the road’s deterioration. The movement of overloaded vehicles beyond the road’s carrying capacity is causing the sides of the road to collapse.

The villagers have warned that the concerned department should immediately resolve the problem, failing which they will launch an intense protest.

There is a strong demand for the road to be developed immediately.