Silvester D’ Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Dec 3: Being upset over the irregularities in construction and maintenance of national highways, Kundapur Rashtriya Heddari Horata Samithi staged a mass protest here on Tuesday, December 3.
Addressing the protesters, Kundapur Rashtriya Heddari Horata Samithi president Kenchanoor Somashekar Shetty informed that the work on national highways has begun without preparing project cost estimate.
“None of the highway authority officials attend meetings in the district. Decisions are taken by the deputy commissioner which is changed soon after his or her transfer. Though road crosses were marked in 26 spots from Suratkal to Kundapur, the details are not available. If we do not solve irregularities in the highway construction, the future generation will curse us. Though there are two tollgates within a gap of 10.5 kilometers, elected representatives do not speak about them,” Shetty said in anguish.
He also highlighted the delay tactics by the contractors and the apathy shown by government towards flyover work, which has been deserted for the last one decade.
B Kishore Kumar said that in the original highway widening plan, the embankment near Basrur Mooru Kai and underpass construction near T T Road were non-existent.
“The project is being amended for the convenience of the contracting company. The patience of people has become a boon for the elected representatives. People have forgotten that it is our right to campaign for public problems,” he pointed out.
“In the basic document of national highway widening project, there were plans to construct embankment to the road near Kundapur Shastri Circle and also a small underpass. An approval was obtained from the centre after insistence of localities for flyover proposal,” said former MP K Jayaprakash Hegde.
Sasthan Rashtriya Heddari Horata Samithi’s Pratap Shetty said that the deadline by the contractor to complete the work within six months has expired. “We invite the decision of district administration to stop toll collection if the work does not get completed within the current deadline,” he said.
Advocate Gopalakrishna Shetty Shiriyar said that the basic intention of preventing loss of lives and property by constructing four-lane road goes hidden now. “Problems are being invited by paying toll. Barricades are laid against rules. There are no street lights on the highway. What is the purpose of having elected representatives?” he asked.
CPM senior leader H Narasimha, Venkatesh Koni, Taluk Working Journalist’s Association president Shashidhar Hemmady, senior advocate A S N Hebbar, Sasthan Heddari Horata Committee’s Sham Sunder also addressed the protesters.
Protestors told contracting company and highway authority officials, that they will not allow them to leave, unless they express their decision. Meanwhile, former MP Jayaprakash Hegde intervened to say that it is not good to pose a show.
Protestors who were not content with the assurances, prepared to block NH66 and protest. Police officials who were worried with the developments pacified the protesters. The protests were called off later.
Assistant commissioner K Raju asked the highway authority and contractors to assure people and set a deadline. The officials assured that they will complete the works by March 31.
The assistant commissioner said that toll collection will be stopped after March 31 if the work is not completed by then. “Legal action will be taken against the guilty,” he said.
Several leaders were present on the occasion.