Justin D’Silva

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Jun 18: The stretch of national highway 169A at Parkala near here is pathetic. The work on this stretch is getting repeatedly delayed since long for one reason or the other.

The widening work of this national highway between Malpe and Thirthahalli is being executed in six phases. The road widening work between Kadiyali and MIT Manipal has already been completed.

In the entire highway, execution of road work at Parkala is found to be a daunting task. The spot has several shops and houses adjacent to the current road. Complications relating to property acquisitions galore. Because of these problems, the work moves slowly and has become a nightmare for the road users. Thousands of people use this road every day to travel to Manipal and Karkala. For heavy vehicles bound for Shivamogga, this is a convenient route. Trucks, buses etc use this road between Shivamogga and Udupi.

Parkala bus stop is in a wretched condition and needs urgent repairs. In the year 2017, a local, K S Rai, had drawn the attention of the Prime Minister towards these problems through a letter written to his office seeking early attention to the issues but the problem has not been resolved. The incomplete works have hit the pedestrians the most. On one side of the road, mud has been levelled while on the other side, pits and potholes dot the roadside. In the past, the municipality used to conduct repair works, but after the road was transferred to the national highways department, no officials are taking interest in repairing the road.

Local MLA Raghupati Bhat, speaking to Daijiworld, said that the expansion of Kadiyarli-Parkala is being taken up at a cost of Rs 99.86 crore. He revealed that there were certain issues relating to land acquisition at Parkala and some people had sought widening of the current road. But as per the detailed project report, a new road has to be laid there. The road widening work cannot be undertaken during the rainy season. Due to rains, problems will arise for the road users. However, day-to-day maintenance is looked after there by the local body, he clarified.