News & Pics: Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network–Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Nov 14: Villagers near Kumbri road in Koteshwar gram panchayat limits protested against excessive number of heavy vehicles plying on the Kumbri Kodi road. 

It is learnt that a contractor from Chennai is constructing an out port at Kodi after obtaining tender for Rs 102 crores.

Material necessary for the construction was earlier transported in heavy vehicles on municipal council roads. However villagers expressed their anguish as the vehicles weighing more than thirty tons started plying on Kumbri Kodi road.

Though locals have submitted a petition to Koteshwar gram panchayat against the heavy vehicles, they started plying again on Monday. Thereafter angry people stopped the vehicles and protested. There were arguments between police and locals as police allegedly spoke supporting the contractor.

Zilla panchayat member Laxmi Manju Billava, former taluk panchayat member Manju Billava, gram panchayat president Janaki Billava and vice president Udaya Naik who came to the place have condemned the incident saying it was not fair to allow heavy vehicles to ply on the road without developing it.

Contractor's representative Sharanava and PWD officer Nagaraj visited Panchayat office and submitted an affidavit that heavy vehicles will be allowed only after developing the road.