Pics: Justin D'Silva

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Oct 27: This stretch was a road once, but has now turned into a dirt track. The road between Beedinagudde-Sharada Kalyana Mantap has now reached a point that is the worst ever.

This connecting road is largely used by vehicles to join Udupi-Manipal highway. It used to be a useful road link which would be used mostly by a large number of two wheelers.

Two wheelers as well as four wheelers used to commute on this connecting road frequently so as to avoid the traffic of Udupi city. But now the road has been completely destroyed in the name of underground drainage (UGD). After the second lockdown the Udupi City municipal Council (CMC) thought to expand the UGD project of the Udupi city and connect more households for the UGD. The project began from Sharada Kalyana Mantap area. During this process CMC dug the road in the name of providing new connections for the existing drainage system.

Work went on for about 15-20 days and traffic was diverted. But the woes did not end here. Once the road was opened for the use of commuters, the people using this road began to experience the real problems. The dug road was not repaired when it was opened for traffic.

It has been months since then, but no action has been taken by either the CMC or by the concerned departments. Everyday thousands of two wheelers and four wheelers including trucks and goods carriers use this road and now it has become a nightmare for travel. This one km stretch has only 250 metres of good road. The extended part of this road which is Chitpady-Beedinagudde road has also a 200-meter stretch that has been dug up on one side for the drainage work.

Commuters arriving from Manipal and other adjoining areas during late night hours are facing grave problems due to bad condition of the roads. As this is an easy connecting road for Udupi-Manipal highway and Kornagrapady, Mission compound, Chitpady, Beedinagudde lot of vehicles use this road on a daily basis.

The CMC and concerned departments should take necessary action immediately and act before any major mishap happens on this road. The vehicles running in this road have come face to face many times and in the case of a number of instances accidents were avoided at the last minute. This has become an everyday occurrence when making use of this road.