Udupi: Flash Protest Brings Traffic to a Halt on NH 17
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Oct 26: The road users were not only surprised, but also faced serious problems, as a flash protest by way of road blockade, was staged by the activists of ‘Heddari Ulisi Samiti’ under the leadership of Sri Laxmivarateertha Swamiji of Shirur Mutt, who is next in line for taking over Paryaya, Kolalagiri church priest, Jerome Monteiro, local MLA, Raghupati Bhat, Udupi Urban Development Authority chairman, Sudhakar Shetty, Govindaraj Hegde of ‘Heddari Ulisi Samiti’, BJP leader Bykadi Suprasad Shetty, taluk panchayat member, Satish Poojary, Chinmayamurty, Umesh Shetty and others at Kallianpur Santekatte near here.The protest started at about 10 am on Monday October 26.
The protestors demanded for taking up immediate repairs and restoration works for the national highway 17, which has remained in a neglected state since long. They pointed out that assurances doled out earlier in respect of repairing the highway, have remained unfulfilled, and held up the traffic for about 90 minutes, as a result of which, long lines of vehicles were formed on both sides of the road. The protestors wanted the deputy commissioner of the district to personally come and hear their grievances.
Assistant commissioner, Ramesh, came on the scene and held talks with the protestors. He informed that a sum of Rs 1.5 crore is being released from the calamity fund of the state, for filling the pot holes on the national highway and for undertaking certain other repairs.
The protestors dispersed at about 11.30 am, but not before warning that they will undertake a stronger protest again, if the road repairs are not taken up within 15 days.