Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (GA)

Mangalore, Aug 18: The Coastal Route (Suratkal-Mangalore) city buses will hold a day-long strike on Friday August 18 protesting against the pathetic state of National Highway 17 between Mukka and the city. 

As per the press release of the Coastal Route Bus Owners' Association, all the buses plying on this route will go off the road on Friday.  Association president Ramchandra Naik said that the state of National Highway 17 between Suratkal and the city is so bad that, it is quite impossible to run vehicles on it.  "Despite repeated appeals to the administration to repair road, nothing concrete is done.  That is why we have decided to hold strike.  We know the commuters will face a lot of problems owing to this protest.  But we have no other way left out.  If the administration still does not pay attention to our heed, then all the buses plying on this sector will go off the road for an indefinite period," he added.

Suratkal Consumers' Forum, Suratkal Yuva Morcha and other local organizations too would participate in the protest.