Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Mar 10: Localities of Laxmindra Nagara, Vibhudapriya Nagara and surrounding places of Manipal staged a protest demanding U-turn in newly widened national highway 169A.

"The recently widened Udupi - Manipal national highway 169A is filled with many errors and the people are facing many problems due to the unscientific work. There are provisions to provide U-turn for vehicles in between Syndicate Circle and Indrali. But persistently the officials are denying to provide a U-turn here. In some places, the road is above 16 feet from the ground level which is very much tiresome to commute. Residents of Laxmindranagara and Vibhudhapriya Nagara used to have a cordial relationship. Now we feel we are living in a place like Wagah border. We had earlier given our appeal to the DC to provide a U-turn in Laxmindra Nagara but no action has been taken till today," said resident Krishna Hebbar.

Residents of this area have to commute 1.5km to and fro in their vehicles just to cross the road. They submitted a petition for the same earlier as well. The residents are also unhappy because of incomplete drainage work. People fear that the rainwater in the coming days may enter their households due to incomplete drainage work. "There were two U-Turns in Laxmindra Nagara before the road widening. But now there is none. From last year, we submitted our appeal to several people. Now we have learnt that the Police department is not allowing for a U-turn in this area claiming that it would turn into an accident zone as the vehicles arriving from Manipal would be coming in at a high speed. To control the speed of vehicles barricades and speed breakers can be installed here. The people of the area are ready to sponsor and maintain these barricades voluntarily. But we need a U-turn in this area at any cost", said Ravindra Kamath president Laxmindra Nagara Nagarika Samithi.

Members submitted their appeal to DC. Yohish Nayak, Suresh Belliraya, Bharathi Prakash councillor and others were present at the spot.