Thejaswi U Poojary

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Mar 10: The people of Udupi district have expressed their disappointment over the infrequent visits of district in-charge minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar, who has made only a handful of trips to the district since assuming office.

Despite being responsible for overseeing the district’s administration and development, minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar has reportedly visited Udupi only 20 times in nearly two years, raising concerns about her commitment to the region.

Minister Hebbalkar took charge as Udupi’s district in-charge minister in June 2023. However, her presence in the district has remained minimal. In 2023, she made only nine visits, while in 2024, the number marginally increased to ten. The trend has continued into 2025, with no reported visits in the first two months of the year.

Residents and local leaders allege that minister Hebbalkar’s visits are largely restricted to formal events such as inaugurations, official meetings, and national festival celebrations. She rarely undertakes field visits to assess the ground realities of developmental projects or interact with the general public to understand their concerns.

The lack of frequent visits has led to dissatisfaction among the people of Udupi, who feel that the district is being neglected. Several citizens and local representatives have voiced their concerns over the minister’s absence, pointing out that critical issues such as infrastructure development, tourism promotion, and civic amenities require more hands-on leadership.

Even Congress party workers, dissatisfied with the minister’s performance, once expressed their frustration with the slogan ‘Go Back Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar.’

The people of Udupi expect the district in-charge minister to visit regularly and take stock of the situation first-hand. However, they claim that she only comes for inaugurations or government functions. They believe a district in-charge minister must be proactive and present in the region frequently, as simply attending formal meetings is not enough.

As the district’s in-charge minister, Hebbalkar allegedly failed to coordinate with the MLAs of Udupi, assess the district’s requirements, and propose them in the state budget. As a result, Udupi was deprived of grants for its developmental activities. The lack of regular checks and coordination with MLAs also led to slow progress in infrastructural development projects, such as the Indrali railway bridge, Santhekatte underpass construction, and others, causing major inconveniences to commuters and residents.

There is a strong demand for establishing a medical college in Udupi district, which people expected to be proposed in the state budget 2025. However, the minister did not raise any such request. Additionally, the minister remained silent on rising issues in Udupi and failed to address the people's demand for justice, leaving them disappointed.

For the past 15 days, protesters in Brahmavar taluk have been demanding justice over the trash scam. Despite Karnataka’s deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar visiting the site, the in-charge minister has neither visited nor addressed the protesters' concerns.

Udupi is a key district in Karnataka, known for its coastal economy, temples, and tourism. It also has a significant number of infrastructure and developmental projects that require active monitoring. The minister’s absence has raised questions about the progress of these projects and whether they are being effectively implemented.

Local activists argue that the minister’s lack of visits has led to delays in addressing issues such as road development, drainage systems, and other civic projects. "If the minister does not visit, how can she understand the actual problems faced by the people? Development needs a hands-on approach," they say.

With growing public dissatisfaction, calls for a more committed approach from the minister are increasing. As two months of 2025 have already passed without a single visit, residents hope that the minister will soon take note of the concerns and increase her presence in the district.