Mangalore: Ore Trucks throw Traffic on NH 17 out of Gear

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jun 8: The number of ore trucks arriving at the local port has seen a sudden spurt after their entry was barred in Karwar port some time back.; The traffic on national highway 17 between Kottara in the city to Panambur was severely disrupted on Sunday June 7, as ore-laden trucks made a beeline to the city in hundreds.

As the buses plying on this road to various destinations including Udupi, Karkala etc., suffered time-lags, people were put to unnecessary inconveniences. The fact that numerous auspicious occasions had been scheduled for Sunday worsened the situation further. Some of the buses as a result, took alternative routes. Some buses reportedly cut short the number of trips because of the traffic woes.

As the port yard could not accommodate hundreds of trucks that came in at a time, trucks were found parked haphazardly all over the national highway. Trucks had also been parked around the two bridges in Kuloor. The pounding rains made the matters worse. By 12 pm, the policemen could bring back normalcy in the traffic.

It is learnt, the district administration of Dakshina Kannada has requested the government not to issue any additional permits to ore trucks, other than those already plying to the port. The mines and geology department to which the request was made, does not seem to have paid heed to this request, going by the way the ore trucks have taken to roads again, after a brief respite.