Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Feb 27: A protest was organized at the circle at Byndoor on Monday February 26 against the proposed construction of an underpass there on national highway 66. The protesters were demanding for a flyover at the spot. The police arrested the protesters.

Deepak Kumar Shetty, president of taluk Raita Sangha, who was one among those arrested, fell seriously ill all of a sudden. He stands admitted into a private hospital.

The locals have been strongly in favour of a flyover at the spot and their demand had been conveyed to district deputy commissioner, MP, union minister for highways etc, but under instructions from the deputy commissioner, the contracting company began work on the underpass with tight security on Monday. Angered by this development, locals led by taluk Raita Sangha president, Deepak Kumar Shetty and zilla panchayat member, Suresh Batwady, organized a protest.

The police intervened, dispersed the protesters and took into custody Deepak Kumar Shetty, Suresh Batwady and social activist, Venkatesh Koni. They were being taken away by police vehicle when Deepak Kumar Shetty collapsed to his knees and became ill. He was initially admitted into the government hospital at Byndoor and then into a private hospital in this town. As the ambulance at Byndoor did not have a driver, the concerned had to wait for an hour before the ambulance from Kirimanjeshwar arrived to bring Shetty to the town from Byndoor.

Suresh Batwady said that the demand for the flyover had been made to MP, Yeddyurappa and union minister for highways, Nitin Gadkari and both of them had promised to meet this demand. He said that the contracting firm was told to undertake service road and drain work initially so that they could procure sanction for the hanged plan from the centre. He said that the firm suddenly began work on the underpass in the guise of orders received from the district administration.

Project manager of contracting firm, IRB constructions, Yogendrappa, said that as per public demand, the width of the underpass was increased from 7 metre to 12 metre and length was changed from 3.5 metre to 4.5 metre. He said that if they delay the work, his company will have to pay penalty to the government.

Zilla panchayat education and health standing committee chairman, Babu Shetty, zilla panchayat member, Shankar Poojary and many others visited Deepak Kumar Shetty in the hospital and wished him speedy recovery.