Udupi, Jul 11 (The Hindu): The Udupi-Dakshina Kannada Districts National Highway 17 Evacuees' Committee has demanded that the width of NH 17, which is being converted into a four-lane road from Surathkal to Kundapur, be restricted to 45 metres.

Convener of the committee Ramdas Nayak told presspersons here on Saturday that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would be converting the 76-km stretch between Surathkal and Kundapur and the 195-km stretch between Kundapur and Karwar to four lanes with a width of 60 m.

Terming the policy of NHAI discriminatory, he said the people of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts would not accept it. At a recent meeting held in Bangalore, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had directed the NHAI officials to restrict the width of the highway to 45 m in urban areas and 60 m in rural areas. However, the officials had begun acquiring land for 60-m highway, he said.

Delegation

Hence, a delegation of the committee would meet Mr. Yeddyurappa on July 15 and impress upon him the need to keep the width of NH 17 in these two districts to 45 m.

If necessary, the committee would take a delegation to New Delhi also, Mr. Nayak said.

Members of the committee Sukhananda Shenoy, Panduranga Kini, Sheela Shetty and A. Mendonca were among those present.