M'lore: National Highways Bandh Cripples Normal Life – Employees, Students, Hard Hit

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jan 23: The national highway blockade called by the Rashtreeya Heddari Ulisi Samiti that has effectively blocked traffic in six highways passing through Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi districts today, has brought the movement of public transport in the twin-districts to a grinding halt. The bandh will be in force from 6 am to 6 pm on Saturday January 23.

The city roads are wearing a deserted look. Even though the city buses were expected to move about normally, as per a statement earlier issued by Dakshina Kannada District Bus Owners Association, many city buses are off the road, as part of their routes cover national highways.

The Heddari Ulisi Samiti has set up about 50 committees in the three districts for the total enforcement of the bandh, Heddari Ulisi Samiti convener, Govindaraj Hegde had said. Accordingly, groups of activists were seen blocking the national highways at Pumpwell, Kulai etc. Many public organizations have pledged their support for the bandh. Democratic Youth Federation of India, which has also been supporting the blockade, has organized the blockade at Nanthoor on the outskirts of the city. The committees have organized entertainment programmes like orchestra, skits etc., at some points on the national highways.

The city roads have been wearing a deserted look since today morning. The passengers who arrived in night buses from far off places like Belgaum and Bangalore were seen waiting for onward transport to their places. Some night buses moving to Udupi and Kundapur were seen picking up some waiting passengers in the morning. Employees and students were seen waiting for transport in almost all the bus shelters within the city, as the autorickshaws that are doing a brisk business, are unable to cope up with the demand.

The policemen arrested a few persons for stopping the vehicles from moving through the city and other district roads at junctions like Pumpwell Circle and Nanthoor, when the activists stopped the vehicles that came through the other roads from crossing the national highway to proceed to their destinations by using roads other than the national highways. The buses are being allowed to cross the national highway, thereafter.