Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Sep 18: "The national highways department is following some archaic rules which say that the stretch of the national highway proposed to be upgraded will neither be maintained nor repaired. The process of widening the national highway between Kundapur and Tokkottu has been set to roll only recently, with the proposed completion date having been tentatively put at 2013. Does the department want us to move about on the national highway, bumping and jerking into pot holes and craters till then," an angry D V Sadanand Gowda, MP, questioned.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday September 17, Gowda condemned the stand of the national highways department that it would not repair the road as it is set for widening.  He felt, the highways department has to take responsibility of keeping the road in good condition till it is developed. "We have convinced Kamal Nath, union minister, of the suffering of the people here. He has assured to undertake fresh asphalting of the road. The state government had released Rs 14 crore last year for highway development and for this year, it will spend another Rs 10 crore," he explained.

Gowda said that he, along with other representatives, had brought pressure on the minister of state in the railways to extend the Mangalore-Bangalore train up to Karwar and  run it on daily basis instead of thrice a week. He also explained that he had insisted on fixing a minimum support price of Rs 85 per kg of areca nut and held discussions on the issue with the Chief Minister, who has promised to consider the same.

Kundapur block BJP president Kishore Kumar, taluk panchayath member Babu Poojary and municipal councillor Rajesh Kaveri were present at the press conference.