Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Sep 2: District deputy commissioner, Dr M T Reju, expressed hope to find an amicable solution early, to the long-standing deadlock over the question of construction of a bypass road in Padubidri. While the people of the town want a bypass road to be built, those who will lose their properties if bypass road is laid, want the main road itself to be widened under the national highway expansion plan.

Reju was speaking after collecting opinions from those backing the bypass plan and the ones opposing it, at a meeting held on Wednesday August 31 at the auditorium of his office. He said that an important meeting is being held on September 3 in this regard, and a report would be submitted to the government thereafter. He hoped that the two-month long efforts of the district administration to solve this problem will bear fruits shortly.

The DC said that widening of the main road appears to be more feasible, and observed that many people had not set aside 40 metres wide land for the highway in the past as mandated. “As compared to 45 acres of land, 45 houses and agricultural fields of 55 persons which will be lost if a bypass is built, 30 buildings, 42 owners and 130 people living on rental basis will get displaced if the main road expansion is okayed,” he said. He commented that buildings can be rebuilt, but agricultural lands once lost, cannot be reclaimed. Moreover, construction of the bypass road requires additional time, he observed.

Deviprasad Shetty, leader of those opposing bypass road at Padubidri, questioned the motive of laying bypass road only for Padubidri, while main roads alone are being developed in all other towns in the district. Navinchandra Shetty said it would be unfair to expect poor farmers to sacrifice their land, while allowing people who have built illegal buildings on the main road to go scot free.

Those living in Padubidri town including Dr N T Anchan, Y Sukumar and Dr Y N Shetty, said that retention of the town in its original form will pave way for better business opportunities in future. They stressed that the original plan for bypass road that has been approved by the centre should be executed in its original form.