Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Dec 31: It is said that long awaited Bantwal Market Road will be widened in January, if everything goes on smoothly as planned.

Local people have been demanding for the widening of the road for some time though the road does not have a footpath. When Bharathlal Meena was the Deputy Commissioner (DC), he had proposed to construct a footpath and marked the roadside shops for demolition for the purpose. However he got transferred just then and Ponnuraj came as DC in his place. He failed to take concrete step in that direction.

Present DC Dr Jagadish, known as strict and honest officer had conducted two meetings concerning widening of the road in November. Bantwal PWD and survey department surveyed the government land and marked the shops which have occupied it. The PWD later released a circular asking such shop keepers to vacate their shops within the next 15 days. But it did not demolish the shops even after the expiry of 15 days. Thereafter yet another meeting was held in the DC’s office in the presence of district in charge minister Ramanath Rai. The minister suggested taking the traders into confidence and discussing with them before the work.

A meeting chaired by Assistant Commissioner (AC) Renuka Prasad was held in Bantwal guest house on Friday, December 30 as per suggestion of the minister but only a handful of traders participated in it. Municipal council president Ramakrishna Alva, vice president Mohammed Nandarabettu, Mangaluru project director Prasanna, Bantwal Tahasildar Purandara Hegde, chief officer Sudhakar, PWD engineer Arun Prakash, Survey department supervisor Ahmed, revenue department village accountant Janardhan, Yoganand and Taufiq were present in it.

AC Renuka Prasad has said that leaders of trader’s association told them that they will inform their decision after holding a meeting with remaining traders. Another meeting in this connection is scheduled on January 17. He said that he does not know of the planned protests on January 2 against the department.

When asked about the hardship faced by people due to road digging by national highway authority at B C Road, Kaikamba, he said that he will speak to the concerned officials as the engineer could not attend the meeting due to some other urgent work. “Minister Ramanath Rai also has asked to urgently attend to the road work,” he said.

“The deputy commissioner, in order to develop the road, will act on the demolition of shops on B C Service road who have already been paid compensation.” he added.

With the present developments after a gap of many years, people are hopeful that the widened market road will be a reality soon.