Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur

Kundapur, Aug 29: The interstate road connecting Kundapur to Thirthahalli via Amparu, Siddapur, and Hosangadi has yet to be fully developed. The stretch of highway from Kundapur to Hosangadi remains in disrepair, posing significant difficulties and accident-prone zones. While governments prioritize road development, this highway has been largely neglected.

Amidst news of the construction of new roads and the development of four-lane highways elsewhere, it is unfortunate that this important state highway has not been upgraded to meet current developmental standards, despite the general trend of prioritizing road infrastructure. This road, which is crucial for connectivity between Kundapur and Shivamogga, sees hundreds of buses and goods transport vehicles daily. Vehicles from various districts and states use this route to reach Kundapur via Mastikatte.

The road from Kundapur, passing through Kodi, Moodlakatte, Basrur, Kandlur, Amparu, Siddapur, and Hosangadi, was supposed to be developed 20 years ago. It is an essential route for traffic coming to Kundapur from Bangalore, Davangere, Bellary, Raichur, and Hyderabad. This could even be considered a national highway. However, the road is still neglected, with narrow passages and dangerous curves.

Although some development has occurred sporadically along this route, the road has not progressed to the expected level. The route, which connects to ghat roads leading to other regions, is considered safer than other ghat roads, which is why many vehicles prefer it. The volume of traffic on this route is also higher. There seems to be little interest from the concerned authorities in developing this road.

Starting from Kundapur, the road remains narrow from Basrur to Moodlakatte, with some stretches only about 20 feet wide. The road is particularly congested after the Moodlakatte railway bridge, where numerous accidents have occurred. Despite public appeals for road widening and better maintenance, no significant progress has been made so far, according to local residents.

While some widening was done at the Siddapur Circle and a few turns were corrected, the road has not been expanded to accommodate the heavy traffic flow. The stretch from Koni railway station to the railway bridge is winding and narrow. From Siddapur to Hosangadi, the road is always in poor condition, with only patchwork repairs carried out annually. During the monsoon season, the situation in the Hosangadi area worsens, with large potholes forming on the main road. When the public outcry reaches its peak, emergency repairs are conducted, only for the same problems to recur. The road is filled with patches, making it hard to identify the original surface.

Despite the government allocating crores of rupees for road development, the complete development of the road from Kundapur to Hosangadi and efforts to upgrade this highway to a higher standard have not materialized, which is indeed unfortunate. It is questionable why the government has not addressed the problems of this interstate road or considered its elevation to a higher status. Even when National Highway 66 in Kundapur was upgraded to four lanes, no thought was given to improving this major highway.

This highway connecting Kundapur to Shivamogga needs immediate upgrading. While many other roads have been developed, this crucial road still resembles its state from decades ago. The narrow stretch from Moodlakatte to Basrur, along with the current traffic volume, underscores the need to prioritize its development. The concerned departments and government must take prompt action to address this issue - said Dinkar Shetty, a social worker from Mumbaru.