By Vijaya Raj

Beltangady, Nov 26: Bantwal-Villupuram national highway 73 (old No 234) passes through Beltangady taluk. Road users struggle to pass through the stretch of this highway between Bantwal and Beltangady, as this road is full of a large number of steep curves, and it is very narrow for a distance of about 30 km. This road turns more dangerous from Guruvayanakere, where roads from Moodbidri, Karkala and Puttur join the highway. From here till Ujire, all vehicles move at a very slow pace, even as mishaps have become order of the day.

Besides connecting taluk headquarters, NH 73 is also the main link to popular pilgrimage centre Dharmasthala. Pilgrims from the northern interior parts of the state as well as those from coastal region use this highway to reach Dharmasthala, as a result of which the road is always flocked by tourist vehicles.

As many educational institutions are situated at Ujire, a number of students and other commuters take this route and are bound to face dangers. Most of the cultivators travel via this route to communicate with the taluk headquarters and the dilapidated condition of the road has turned into a nightmarish challenge for many.

Failed drainage system beside highway

Following lack of storm water drains, the rainwater flows on the road at Guruvayanakere and many places in Beltangady, causing inconvenience to the pedestrians and motorists. As the drains exist for only in records, the water flows onto the road causing lot of inconveniences to motorists. The drainages provided at various places in Beltangady and particularly at Guruvayanakere are in an unfinished state due to which rainwater has no place to drain but flow onto the roads. Thus, these rains revealed the failure of the drainage system all throughout this taluk, and specifically at Guruvayanakere.

Moreover, at many places in this taluk where the national highway passes, one can find large ponds across the roads. This problem is a normal occurrence particularly at places including Guruvayanakere, Santhekatte, Ujire, Belthangady and other places.

Road is getting worse since Shiradi Ghat was closed for repair work some time back, most of the traffic used to get diverted through Charmadi Ghat. Due to this increase in the vehicle density and the flowing of water onto the road, the road is getting eroded and damaged at a faster pace. When potholes turn up due to this persistent condition, the motorists are forced to face unnecessary risk and danger.

Guruvayanakere-Beltangady stretch of the highway has developed several cracks which were often temporarily repaired by the authorities concerned, but it turned out to be nothing but an eyewash. This road has now developed more cracks and has given rise to major mishaps.

Risk to motorists

At Guruvayanakere, no two heavy vehicles can pass together from opposite directions due to the narrowness of the road. The road has never been widened for the past half a century except for the drainage and pedestrian pathway, which have been completely used to widen the road a bit. Moreover, the edges of the road have worn out at many places, thus giving rise to dangerous situations. Importantly, the worn-out edges of the elevated roads can easily cause a two-wheeler to lose balance, fall and cause injury to the riders.

Since the traffic density has increased, the two-wheeler riders are prone to ride on the edges of the road, which has been increasing the chances of an accident along the stretch. Even if the rider tries to give a miss to the potholes and worn out edges of the road, his attempts will only increase the chances of meeting with an accident with another vehicle. Even during normal days, the curving road was dangerous when two heavy vehicles came face to face. At least one vehicle has to get away from the road partly to make way for the other.

Road users appear destined to suffer this ordeal for quite long, as the National Highway Authority is still in the process of securing resources and acquisition of required land for widening the road. Unless political bigwigs show real interest and support, the widening of this road will remain a mirage.

The commuters therefore have urged the Member of Parliament and concerned National Highway Authority to look into this issue seriously and take necessary action immediately.