Bantwal: Pejawar Swamiji opposes highway plan through Kalladka town
Mounesh Vishwakarma
Pics: Kishore Peraje / Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP/VM)
Bantwal, Sep 24: "There is no need to destroy Kalladka town to widen Hassan - B C Road stretch, instead let them build a bypass road," said Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Udupi Pejawar Math.
He addressed media persons after holding discussions with Rashtriya Santrastara Horata Samiti, during his visit to Kalladka on Tuesday September 24 morning.
Speaking further, he said, if four-land roads are constructed here, then hundreds of people will face problems. "There is no need for roads that destroy towns and cities. It is best to construct a bypass road," he said.
Assuring his support to the fight against the project, the Swamiji said that he would hold discussions with the central land ministry and the highway authority in this regard.
National Heddari Santrastara Horata Samiti honorary president Dr Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat briefed on the problems posed by the proposed road widening project.
When Swamiji asked Dr Bhat if there was any politics involved in the fight, Dr Bhat said, "Our main aim is to protect Kalladka town and the members in the committee are from different political parties and religions."
Padmanabh Kottary briefed the Swamiji about the problem posed by the proposed construction of underpass.
Dr Kamala Prabhakar Bhat, Horata Samiti president Dinesh Shenoy, gram panchyat president Sundar Kulal, Kunhi Ahmed, Stanislaus D’Souza, Shivaji Bhat, Monappa Devasya, Ramesh Kalladka, Donald D’Souza, Thirumaleshwar Bhat, Suresh Kalladka, Shivaram Holla, K H Hamubba, Yathin Kumar among others were present.
About the project
The highway department has prepared a four-lane project that will raze down Kalladka town. The department plans to carry on the four-lane work through construction of an underpass similar to the ones built in Brahmavar and Padubidri that have created much inconvenience to the people.
The department has already earmarked 22.5 meters (total 45 meters) on either side of the present highway for acquisition. The new highway will be built on the present highway at a height of fifteen feet, and underpasses will be built on the ways to Amtoor and Vittal. There will be service roads on both sides of the highway. If the highway is built as per the plans, it will divide Kalladka town.
What is an underpass?
The four-lane highway will not be constructed on level land. Instead, a fifteen-feet high wall will be built on both sides of the present highway. The inside portion will be filled and a four-lane road will be constructed within them. Construction of two underpasses on ground level at Amtoor and Vittal cross are part of the project.
What is the problem?
The department plans to make the four-lane highway pass through the present Kalladka town. The department’s plan to go ahead with the four-lane highway through the town has sent anxiety among residents.
The four lane road will close Kalladka with a large wall. It will stop transport on both the sides. People will have to rely only on the underpass to cross the road, and walk for long distances in order to reach the other side.
Lack of awareness
If Kalladka highway gets widened, some of business establishments, houses and buildings will get destroyed. Many people know that Kalladka town will be sacrificed for the highway. However, the fact that the town will get divided due to underpass is known to very few, and hence there have few protests so far.
Now that the people are aware of the problems created by the underpass at Brahmavar, a protest committee has examined them.
The residents and members of protest committee are anxious that the future of the residents is in jeopardy due to the new plans of the government.