Silvester D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)
Kundapur, Jul 8: The national highway passing through the taluk has turned into a dangerous stretch of potholes, claiming the lives of riders and drivers. Despite public outcry over the unscientific highway work, concerned officials have not paid heed.
During the monsoon, the service road near Basrur Murkai becomes a significant inconvenience, turning into a rivulet. There are two underpasses near Moorkai where water stagnates, making vehicle travel impossible. Many two-wheeler riders have injured themselves, unaware of the potholes hidden by the water. Daily, at least three to four riders fall and get injured. The water stagnation issue remains unresolved.
When Halady Srinivasa Shetty was the MLA, he instructed the officials to find a practical solution. He visited the spot and urged them to fix the problem. However, the issue persists, as officials do not take it seriously. Responding to complaints, newly re-elected MP from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency, Kota Srinivas Poojary, visited the problematic spots on Monday, July 8.
In central Kundapur, public frustration with officials and elected representatives peaks during the monsoon, given the poor state of the roads. Navayug company, contracted for highway maintenance, fails to maintain the roads adequately, and the negligence of NHAI exacerbates the public's hardship.
The Basrur Moorkai area is not the only problematic spot for motorists. Issues persist throughout the service road. At the entrance to Kundapur city, a broken slab of an underground drainage system was left with just a barricade for three months. Officials only hurried to repair the slab when a meeting with the MP was scheduled for July 8.
There seems to be no end to the woes of vehicle riders in Kundapur during the monsoon. Water flows from the overbridge onto the service road, splashing onto riders as vehicles pass on the inundated highway. These scenes are common daily.
On Monday morning, a meeting was held under the leadership of MP Kota Srinivas Poojary. After the meeting, the MP visited the problematic spots with officials concerned. Locals and eminent party leaders explained the issues in detail to both the MP and MLA. Kota Srinivas Poojary instructed officials to resolve the issues faced by the public on the highway during the monsoon. He visited Basrur Moorkai, the underpass, and Koteshwara areas.