Oscar's contribution to Udupi almost nil, laments Raghupati Bhat

Daijiworld News Network - Udupi

Udupi, Sep 5: "Oscar Fernandes has enjoyed higher positions and wielded more power than the late Dr V S Acharya. Yet his contribution to our town is much less than that of Dr Acharya," said former MLA Raghupati Bhat.

Speaking at a press conference held at the local BJP office on Wednesday September 4, Bhat said that Oscar's contribution is too small and his tenures as MP or minister have hardly helped the town. During the press conference he urged Oscar Fernandes who is now the central minister for transport, road and highways, to put in efforts to construct a flyover on NH 66 at Brahmavar  and Karavali Junction near here.

Having flyovers both at Brahmavar and Karavali Junction very much necessary in order to ease traffic. The highway authorities have proposed a cattle pass at Brahmavar and an underpass at Karavali Junction. But both will be of no use. Actually they will create more problems instead of easing woes. A cattle pass in Brahmavar will be detrimental to the development of Brahmavar as it will divide the growing town in two. Hence Oscar Fernandes should intervene and convince the authorities to shelve the plan for cattle pass and underpass at Brahmavar and Karavali Junction respectively. Instead flyovers must be constructed in both these places, he demanded.

Initially the highway authority had proposed to construct flyovers at Udupi, Brahmavar, Padubidri and Kundapur. However later on such plans were given up and the idea of underpass and cattle pass was mooted. But the authorities are not understanding the local problems. They have not studied the cons of shelving flyover plans, he added.

Oscar Fernandes could have done tremendous work in his home constituency since he has enjoyed considerable power for long. But his contribution towards the development of his native place is almost nil. At least now he should do something that is good and necessary for his homeland, Bhat opined.

Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Jayaprakash Hegde and Oscar have been contacted repeatedly in this regard. However, they haven't responded positively. If the situation remains the same for next few days, a protest will be staged by blocking the national highway on September 15, he warned.

BJP Yuva Morcha president Vilas Nayak said that a bike rally will be held on September 7 to urging authorities to speed-up the ongoing NH 66 project.

Balakrishna Shetty, Ratnakar Shetty, Mohan Shetty etc were also present at the press meet.

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