Daijiworld Media Network – Brahmavar (JD)

Brahmavar, Apr 16: With no visible progress on the promised service road work between SMS College and Mahesh Hospital, residents of Brahmavar, led by the flyover agitation committee, have announced a massive protest on Thursday, April 17.

The public has expressed strong displeasure over the continued negligence by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the district administration in addressing blackspots along the Brahmavar stretch of the highway.

Following the tragic death of a schoolboy at the Mahesh Hospital junction due to unscientific road design, the Udupi deputy commissioner and superintendent of police had visited the spot. A technical committee was subsequently formed to recommend both temporary and permanent solutions. Based on public demand for a flyover from Dharmavarm to Baikady, the technical committee too had given a favourable opinion and submitted its report to the district commissioner.

Earlier, the public had held a large protest demanding a flyover at Brahmavar. In response, authorities had assured the construction of a service road from SMS College to Mahesh Hospital within a week. However, with no work initiated to date, the stretch continues to remain accident-prone.

On Tuesday, April 16, yet another accident took place involving an auto-rickshaw and a container lorry, leaving the auto passengers seriously injured. Following the incident, barricades were erected at the junction and a traffic police officer was deployed to regulate traffic.

Condemning the inaction by the authorities, the flyover agitation committee and local residents have issued a final deadline — 10 am on Thursday, April 17. If the service road work is not initiated by then, they will go ahead with a large-scale public protest later in the day.