Civil society protests demanding repair of Parkala-Manipal stretch of NH

Civil society members staged a protest to demand the repair of the battered Manipal-Parkala stretch of National Highway 169-A at Parkala in Udupi district on Sunday.

They also urged the government to resume the stalled four-lane highway widening project between Manipal and Parkala.

Speaking on the occasion, civic activist P.V. Bhandary said that people will take out a padayatra from Parkala to the office of the Udupi Deputy Commissioner four weeks from now if the stretch is not repaired. The lives of people who travel on this stretch are at stake, he lamented.

Holding placards, the protesters criticised the National Highway Division of Public Works Department for not maintaining the stretch in motorable condition.

Sathish Mallya, a resident of the area participating in the protest, said it is disappointing that despite the daily hardship faced by commuters, the authorities remain unresponsive to the urgent need for a safe road.

Activist Ganeshraj Saralebettu said that the delay in completing the four-lane works has already resulted in several accidents. The travellers between Manipal and Karkala, Hebri and Shivamogga are facing the hardship, he said.

Udupi City Municipal Councillor Ramesh Kanchan also joined the protest, expressing solidarity with the people. If no action is taken, people might have to pitch a tent at Parkala to continue the agitation, he said.