Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Mar 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known to respond to people whenever they write to him expressing their grievances. Just last month, Modi wrote back to a student from Mangaluru who complained about a road in Mangalpady gram panchayat limits, and in no time, the repair work on the road began. Now, in another such instance, PM Modi has responded to a student who wrote to him about the issues concerning the national highway 66 at Brahmavar.
The NH-66 at Brahmavar has been in the news time and again for its unscientific design, with locals holding repeated protests and politicians assuring solutions each time. But the issues remain unresolved.
With the hope that the PM's intervention would bring a positive change, Deepak Kanchan, son of Anand Kanchan and Varija, residents of Kolambe, Rajivnagar near Brahmavar, wrote to the PM explaining the issue. And got a response in no time.
A second-year student of SMS College, Brahmavar, Deepak on February 26 wrote a three-page letter to the PM narrating the problems faced by Brahmavar public.
Though he was hopeful of getting a response, he did not expect a prompt response. But to his surprise, on March 6, 2016, he received a letter bearing the letterhead of the Prime Minister Office, New Delhi. Within ten days, Kanchan had got a response from the PMO.
Speaking to Daijiworld, Deepak Kanchan said, "I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister with the hope that the problems of NH 66 would be sorted out. I tried my best to draw the attention of PM Modi on the dangerous four-way stretch of NH-66 at Brahmavar which has become a threat to the lives of pedestrians, students and senior citizens.
After explaining about the importance of the highway and the scant respect for traffic rules shown by vehicle drivers, Deepak stated in his letter: "Since the road leading to the bus stop is (on) the verge of getting demolished, buses avoid the bus stand and instead stop at the national highway for picking up the passengers. Passengers have to keep waiting on the road for the buses. Due to this mess, the shops situated in and around the bus stand junction are facing a hard time due to shortage of customers, thereby affecting their livelihood. (These) problems were discussed by the residents with the authorities, but no one seems to be interested in fixing the problem."
On behalf of Brahmavar students and residents, he urged through the letter: "To take corrective measures before it is too lae by letting the buses into the bus stand as it used to be earlier. This (will) not only ensure the safety of pedestrians but also (be) a sigh of relief to thousands of people."
He also enclosed photographs of the highway with the letter so as to give a clear idea of the situation.
Speaking to media persons, Deepak said in addition to the above, a temporary circle should be constructed on the highway to regulate the traffic till the completion of Brahmavar underpass.
In response, the letter from the PMO directed the chief secretary of the government of Karnataka to take appropriate action in the matter and reply to Deepak, and also to uploaded a copy of the response on the PMO website.
Deepak’s parent, friends and Brahmavar NH committee members appreciated Deepak. Now that the PM has responded to his letter, Deepak is hoping for the best and looking forward to further action on the unscientific highway.
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