Pareekshith Shet
Daiiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Mar 21: Since the last several decades, traders of various wares have made it a habit to assemble at a spot near the city on Sundays to trade their goods at the weekly market. This market meets for half a day, but people from various parts of the district make it a point to come here to look for specific things they need, particularly locally grown fresh vegetables and other unique items at very reasonable prices. But this market has now been shifted because of ongoing highway widening work, resulting in dissatisfaction, disappointment, and frustration among the people and the traders alike.

Santhekatte is a place of prominence between the city and Brahmavar on national highway 66. Over a period, this place has developed into a centre of trade, education, and other activities. All kinds and classes of people visit this place for the weekly market that is famous all over the district, every Sunday.

Fruits, vegetables, chicken etc are brought here by traders in the early morning. Customers flock the area to get things of their choice at a reasonable price by bargaining with the farmers. Unlike other weekly markets in the coast which are held from dawn to dusk, this market runs only till 12 in the afternoon, by which time, almost everything gets exhausted.

This weekly market has been held every Sunday since the last 40 years. Although initially even those who raised other animals like goat and sheep, and fish vendors traded them at the weekly market in course of time, trading of fish alone is continued, and other than fish, only vegetables and fruits, and locally made products from different villages and places are sold. A large number of people from malnad region come here to sell their products.

Because of the highway widening, four-lane highway and two service roads are being laid here. As a result, the weekly market has been shifted from the roadside to near Lord Veerabhadra temple about 200 metres away from its current location.

But the temple management has approached the municipality with an objection, as it apprehends that traders and customers visiting the market may turn the surroundings unholy and unhygienic by urinating, spitting, leaving waste products behind etc.

The traders fear of incurring losses because of shifting the market place. However, many customers are of the opinion that shifting it to a spacious spot would be a better option as currently the market is plagued by parking problem.

Santhekatte is known for traffic snarls and increasing traffic and congestion is posing threat of the area turning into accident prone zone. The highway authorities too have exhibited their recklessness by not constructing a proper bus stand here. MP, Shobha Karandlaje, has turned a blind eye towards the risk posed by the haphazard work and the bus stand that threatens to crumble anytime. Pedestrians and people crossing the road face grave danger on account of increased speed of buses, trucks, and other vehicles. There has also been a demand for construction of under pass like Brahmavar at Santhekatte.

People expect the highway authohorities, local administration, MLA, MP and other concerned to sink their personal egos for the general good of the people and take steps in the larger interests of the people like planting of trees lining the roads, construction of under pass and over bridge, proper facility for holding weekly market, and a proper bus stand so that all the above problems are addressed.