Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 2: The district administration of Dakshina Kannada had issued orders banning movement of ore-laden trucks during the day on national highway 17. This was perceived to be a right step towards easing traffic snarls on the highway. It proved to be true, but after the way bridge at Ottinene developed snags, the ore trucks have been ruling the road at odd hours, putting the lives of people in jeopardy and throwing traffic out of gear.

Traffic from Mukka to Kuloor came to a standstill frequently because of the long line of ore trucks that blocked the road on Tuesday July 1. In the evening, a traffic block created by ore trucks created a long line of vehicles from Kolnad in Mulki to Suratkal. The heavy rains posed further problems for people rushing to homes from their offices.

As the way bridge could not be repaired within a reasonable time, the authorities released the entire line of about 900 trucks that were in a long queue there, resulting in traffic chaos. Kundapur sub-divisional officer K N Ramesh informed that it would take another two days to repair the Ottinene way bridge. Suratkal police are happy collecting fines from trucks that enter the town during the day.

In the meantime, the truckers strike has started on July 2 midnight. It is feared, that tankers carrying petroleum products may also join the strike, in which case the normal life of the people will suffer a lot. It is not known as to whether the ore trucks too will remain off the roads during the strike period.