Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SS/HB)
Udupi, April 4: Minister of state for Fisheries, Ports and Inland Transport S Angara has directed officials of Public Works Department and all the other departments that undertake road development works to change the rules related to upgradation of district, rural, state and national highways as they are causing problems to people living in its surroundings.
Presiding over the progress review meeting of various developmental activities at the Rajathadri ZP Hall here, he said he would get all the details regarding the widening of roads, highways and other road works from all the legislators of the district and then bring them to the notice of the government officials so that the public were not inconvenienced due to these works. He said he would discuss this issue with the public and the concerned officials so that appropriate decisions are taken to upgrade and downgrade roads/highways as per the need.
Angara expressed dissatisfaction against the officials for implementing road widening projects without understanding the laws governing them. He said through such actions the officlals had put the public into inconvenience as many faced difficulties in taking up construction of buildings at various levels.
He said all local bodies should follow a uniform policy pertaining to implementation of road widening and development works.
Legislator Haladi Srinivas Shetty said he had received many complaints from bus commuters regarding the inconvenience caused to them due to upgradation of roads in the Kundapura constituency.
Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat said his constituency too faced similar problems as village panchayats were acting against the rules which should be sorted out at the earliest. He said all the road widening and development works should be completed quickly without inconveniencing free movement of government vehicles which are on public service.
Minister of Social Welfare and Backward Classes Welfare Kota Srinivas Poojary, Karavali Development Authority chairman Rathnakar M Hegde, Kapu MLA Lalaji R Menden, Deputy Commissioner M Kurmarao, Superintendent of Police Vishnuvardhan, DFO Ashish Reddy, Assistant Commissioner Veena and other district officials were also present.