Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Nov 23: The call given by Dakshina Kannada District Bus Workers Union, demanding for the immediate repair of Suratkal-Bajpe road, by way of stopping to ply any vehicles on this road on Monday November 22, received partial response.

Over 120 city and service buses, which regularly ply on this road, did not take to the road on Monday. Other private vehicles, however, moved about normally.

Previous city mayor, Shankar Bhat, had announced that a six-lane road would be built from Suratkal to MRPL Cargo Gate, at a cost of Rs 28 crore, with contributions from MRPL and HPCL. MRPL has already agreed to shoulder its share of Rs 14 crore for the project. However, it is learnt that HPCL has not favourably responded to a request to share the project cost, even after the district deputy commissioner wrote to the company, which accounts for most of the LPG bullet tankers moving on this road.

A MRPL official said that asphalting of the road had been assigned through tender process in July this year itself, and that the works could not be taken up so far because of extended rains.

President of the union, Ivan D’Souza, addressing the protesting workers, said that the road has immensely suffered because of the movement of vehicles of MRPL, HPCL, BASF, and other concerns. He charged the city corporation, local peoples’ representatives and the city corporation, of failing to maintain the road in good condition with financial support from these concerns.

“If steps are not taken to repair this road within 15 days, we will organize demonstrations in front of the houses of the local MLA and mayor. We will also stage protest by blocking the movement of bullet tankers of these companies,” he warned.

General secretary of the union, Krishna D Kanchan, president of Suratkal Tourist Cars Drivers and Owners Association, Chandrashekhar, Tempo Drivers and Owners Association president, Raghavendra Rao, and several others were present. The agitators also staged a walkathon from Suratkal to MRPL Cargo Gate to register their protest.