Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (MS)
Kundapur, Feb 26: Local administration feels that the road work of NH 66 from Kundapur to Shiroor is almost over. So the road is already opened for public use. However, the work is not complete. Day by day the commuters who are passing through this stretch are facing difficulties.
The road work of 42 km stretch of national highway is in progress for the past six years. Except for the roads and bridges on both sides, no other work is completed so far. However, the collection of toll has started at Shiroor last year itself.
From Hemmady to Shiroor there are seven underpasses on a stretch of 38 km. At one place there are two underpasses just within a distance of two km. But it is not clear what is the reason for so many underpasses.
The service road is not constructed on main junctions from Tallur to Shiroor. Bus shelters that were demolished to make way for highway work are not rebuilt. Because no bus bays are there on junctions including Trasi buses which have to stop on the highway itself. Underground drainage is not built for the rainwater to flow during the monsoon. At many places, water from the highway is flowing into nearby paddy fields. This has prevented farmers from tilling the land. There are no street lights at junctions like Tallur and Trasi. Manoeuvring vehicles has become a daunting task in many junctions.
In 2019, one part of the highway between Tallur and Hemmady collapsed during monsoon just months after opening it for traffic. Last September, a crack developed between the pillar and slab of the Arate bridge. Vehicular movement was stopped for some months. Every year landslide occurs at Ottinene, which obstructs the movement of traffic during the monsoon. The public is suspecting that the IRB Group which has taken up the highway work is not doing quality work.
According to NHAI and the contractor, the public cannot demand a service road. The department will not give permission to build a service road and divider as per the demands of the public. They do it as per their wish and will. People are frustrated because of this. The overbridge work is still not complete in the heart of the city. Though the contractor is given a deadline many times, he does not seem to care.
Due to the sloppy work public are of the opinion that the highway between Kundapur-Byndoor is not safe for travel.