Unique Form of Protest: Motorist Plants Scarecrow on NH 17 Pothole!


Unique Form of Protest: Motorist Plants Scarecrow on NH 17 Pothole!

Pics: Inchara Digitals
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
 

Udupi, Sep 16: An unidentified motorist, in an innovative way of protest against the highway authorities, installed a scarecrow in one of the many large pot holes found on NH 17 at Kaup, on Thursday September 16. 

The locals had urged the highway authorities to undertake urgent repairs to the stretch of NH 17 from Hejamady to Udyavar, which has several potholes that range from knee-deep to ankle-deep in depth.

Although, the stretch of road has claimed 20 lives and over 100 motorists have been injured in several traffic mishaps over the past three months, the highway authorities have taken no measures to fill the pot holes with bitumen and gravel.   

However, though it caused much amusement among the commuters, the scarecrow also proved to be a traffic hindrance and an annoyance to some as they had to practically veer off the road to pass by the scarecrow without damaging it. This led to a minor traffic jam.

A protest by regular highway users and locals who are angry at the people’s representatives and local politicians is also on the anvil.

  

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Comment on this article

  • John Pinto, Chickmagalur/ Doha

    Sat, Sep 18 2010

    Excellent Idea , But will it work to convince the PWD ?. It looks like waste of time for the person who made this. This Scarecrow will not scare our authorities and politicians in charge .

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  • m h rashid, udupi/India

    Sat, Sep 18 2010

    The Uddyawara bridge on national highway no.17 is almost 50 year old and needs repair...Prefer a new bridge as there is no option or alternative left if it collaps or closed for repair. The authorities needs to plan these in advance rather blaming others after any incident.

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  • Sunil Fernandes, Kota/Dubai

    Sat, Sep 18 2010

    Feel ashamed by seeing the conditions of our roads. Every year same story.. More over Govt is busy in buying Volvo, Mercidece buses which are not suitable for these roads. First Govt should improve the conditions of the roads and then this kind of expensive, luxury buses have been brought on road.

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  • Observer River BRIDGES, Karnad

    Fri, Sep 17 2010

    WEAK / UNSAFE BRIDGE COLLAPSES ON RIVER.

    Man has built bridges since time unknown and seen bridges collapse also since time unknown. Any bridge collapse tells us that either we did something wrong or we do not know something. Here are some instances of unsafe bridge collapses and lessons learnt:
    Our Town Planner’s Leaders, Engineers & People day by day becoming deaf or blind- Eye to Rebuild 52 Year old delicate Road Bridges, but they waste time to Rename towns or Landmark, to gain Popularity to run domestic colonialism.
    Mangalore has High Status Colleges Like MIT, KMC, KREC, NITTE etc… They Masters Top Brains as Doctor or Engineers, they Built Town Structure without Proper Infrastructure, Daily Needed by everyone, Rebuilding all old Town River Bridges, Underground Road Drain System.
    In India

    Mandovi Bridge
    The Mandovi Bridge in Goa collapsed in 1986, within 15 years of the service. The faulty design of the balanced cantilever bridges was the prime cause for the collapse. The investigations also showed that the deteriorated parts were either not maintained / repaired for a long time or were left unattended till the collapse..

    Newaj River Bridge
    In Rajgarh, MP, a bridge under construction over river Newaj collapsed. Prior to this mishap the bridges under construction over river Sindh in Guna district and another bridge in Shajapur district had collapsed. The collapses were taking place as proper precautionary measures were not taken in the centering works.

    The Gawana Bridge
    The Gawana Bridge in UP, a 56-metre span steel truss bridge, was built in 1974, 6 km from Uttarkashi towards Maneri. The entire bridge came off the abutments and fell into the river, on October 20, 1991, when an earthquake occurred. Inadequate design of the bearings and anchor bolts, and absence of any suitable means of preventing the span from falling off the supports were responsible for the damage.

    Deosila Bridge
    In July 2004, the Bailey bridge on NH-37 at Deosila, Assam, collapsed. This happened because a 60-tonne heavy truck was allowed to pass through although the capacity of the bridge was 24 tonnes.

    had settled and cracked. This movement had caused the bridge structure to slide off of its supports and collapse. The foundation failure caused the collapse.
    So, what next?
    Our hometown Mulki, Pavanje, Kulur & Ullal River Bridges on NH17 are 52 years old Cracked many Places, No one think to talk about it, Major User’s MCF, MRPL will Remain Blind-Eye, wait & watch until Bridges will Collapse !!!
    God Save Mangalore River Bridges & People,
    Bridges have collapsed for various reasons like wrong design, wrong operation, overLoaded Cargo Trucks, corrosion foundation failure, earthquakes, floods etc. But all bridge collapses tell the man one main point: Be more vigilant and careful.
    Man will build bigger, better, longer, safer and more beautiful bridges. After all it is the bridge t

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  • Jacob Mendonsa, bangalore

    Fri, Sep 17 2010

    No one will care for our protests & writtings, unless we all join together & bury in these potholes some of our politicians & contractors who are involved in this shody road works.

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  • Sabir, Bangkok

    Fri, Sep 17 2010

    Here a good road becomes bad and then worse and then worst. And while we think its the worst another road comes up to claim that dubious title.I don't believe the terrain or the climate plays a major role in the condition of these roads, its purely due to the poor workmanship, high amount of bribery and off course political negligence

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  • Sagar, Guruvayanakere

    Fri, Sep 17 2010

    NH17 atleast OK, but NH 23 Buntwal to Belthangadi worst to none. Century old Narrow (single lane)and zig zag roads,with several pothholes, completely eroded damar, No drainage at Guruvayanakere town.. etc are the special cherecterstics!

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  • robin, kadri

    Fri, Sep 17 2010

    This road is better than pumpwell to talapady

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  • Martha Daruwalla, Udupi/Mumbai

    Thu, Sep 16 2010

    Dear Hitaishi Motorbhai,

    Very good one. I salute your innovative protest by using waste material. In fact, I had this kind of thought for Mumbai roads in certain places,which are worse here.

    Keep up the good work.

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  • vincy, shamboor/Bangkok

    Thu, Sep 16 2010

    This is a good move and effective mode of protest and tool to grab attention of all the related departments.The motorist will not remove it unless it is kicked out by a veichle itself.If the scarecrow is strong enough to stand the light veichles then it is a perfect action by the citizen.They should bear the numbers of contractors,related engineers,the planning officers.

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  • S N Prabhu, Mangalore

    Thu, Sep 16 2010

    Nice innovative way of protest. i think we need more scare crows around the city.

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  • Jossey Saldanha, Kemmennu

    Thu, Sep 16 2010

    This is what you get when you vote without using your head.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Dony, katapady

    Thu, Sep 16 2010

    "The road has claimed 20 lives and over 100 motorists have been injured in several traffic mishaps over the past three months"
    It is a shame on us to live in such a uncivilised roads & conditions as we claim we will be an economical power.
    There is no value for human life in Mlore & Udupi?
    I feel our power of protest is not strong. The govt will listen only if we protest how the Kashmiris are protesting!!

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  • Alwyn Kumar, Mangalore - USA

    Thu, Sep 16 2010

    We all must ask our Great Stupid Political leaders to watch it and ask where is our TAX money is going?

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  • Ronnie, M'lore

    Thu, Sep 16 2010

    Protest in any innovative forms doesn't make any difference to high way authorities. They are corrupt to the core, irresponsible to the highest and lethargic to the lowest level. National Highway represent emerging India's infrastructure development. Pot holes on NH17 is reason enough whether India is really emerging or just a hollow claim.

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  • Rehana, Kaup

    Thu, Sep 16 2010

    Nice see Polippu..........

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse


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