News and Pics From Hemanath Padubidri
For Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)

Udupi, Aug 23: The 'Save National Highway (NH) 17' committee will stage a  protest by voluntarily repairing the deplorable stretch of NH 17 from Shiroor to Hejamady, if their demand to urgently repair the highway is not fulfilled by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) by Thursday, September 10, said Govindraj Hegde, president  of the committee. He was addressing a press conference held besides the stretch of NH 17 at Brahmavar–Heroor, on Friday, August 22.

NHAI has assured the committee that the repairs will begin by Sunday, August 31, and the latter has offered an additional of 10-day grace period to complete the work. The committee will undertake repairs to the Shiroor–Hejamady stretch with the help of social welfare and voluntary organizations without seeking any permission from authorities, said Govindraj.

The copies of memorandums in this regard have been forwarded to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the union and the state government, and various department officers, urging them to act immediately. Zilla panchayat member Bhujanga Shetty, Shankar Poojary, Suprasad Shetty, and Sudhakar Shetty, were present.