Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Oct 28: Karavali Bypass Nagarika Samiti members on Wednesday October 28 held a protest meeting near Karavali junction here against the proposed underpass and demanding the construction of a flyover on the national highway at this spot.
Convener of the Samiti, Bannanje Babu Amin addressing the protesters said, "Udupi underpass plan is completely unscientific. Malpe-Manipal is a fast developing stretch. The proposed underpass would change the image of Udupi city as it would split Udupi into two parts.
"The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) must install strong concrete pillars instead of sand filled ones as the former would last longer," he added.
Amin also stressed on the need to create awareness among people regarding the issue.
"The NH authority should give a favourable response to our demands or else people will hold a massive protest in the days to come," he warned.
He added that the historic Paryaya celebration is drawing near and people from across the nation will gather in Udupi, so the construction work would be hindered due to heavy traffic. "Karavali junction is the main entrance to the city next to Udyavara Swagata Gopura for people entering the city, hence construction work here would create problems during the Paryaya celebrations," he said.
Sri Laxmivarateerta Swamiji of Shiroor Math said, "Collecting public opinion is important before work on the underpass begins. I fully support this cause."
Shantaraj Aithal, retired NHAI official said that the underpass is an unscientific plan. "The Mangaluru-Byndoor national highway plan was implemented in 1972. The underpass design lacks the opinions of experts. The four-lane project file is still stuck in the central government office," he said.
Prasadraj Kanchan, retired president of Chamber of Commerce and Industry pointed out that nearly 2,500 families lost their lands to road expansion alone and number of vehicles on the road is increasing at the rate of 30 percent a year. In this scenario, a scientific plan was necessary to tackle the increasing traffic, he said.
Janani Diwakar Shetty, district president, Jaya Karnataka, Ramesh Kanchan, CMC councilor, Harish Ram, CMC member, Sudhakar Shetty, owner hotel Sharada international, Udupi, Harish Kini, Congress leader, Shivaji and others were present.