Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Feb 23: Udupi district deputy commissioner, Hemalata P, noted that for a town to develop, its main road should be wide enough to allow movement of large number of people and vehicles. She asked the people living or conducting business by the side of the main road here, to voluntarily set aside land required for the road widening. Failing compliance, she warned that the district administration will take steps to acquire land up to a width of 60 ft, as decided earlier.

She was addressing a meeting of people living by the side of the main road here, and those running their businesses there, on Tuesday February 22. Karkala municipality, which was adjudged the third best in the state last year, plans to lay claim on the top slot next year, with the widening of the main road. At the same time, measures like shifting of the bus stand to Bandimutt, and enforcing one-way traffic in roads wherever felt necessary, are also planned.

Hemalata said that the question of paying compensation arises only when the government acquires their land. She asked the owners of the lands to volunteer to give their land for the widening of the main road as much as possible.

As the meeting failed to arrive at a consensus, it was postponed to next Tuesday. The DC asked the land owners to sit together, and arrive at a decision before the said meeting. She felt that once this is decided, discussions on payment of compensation to those who lose their homes and shops, and making alternative arrangements for them, can be taken up during the next meeting.

Former municipal president, K P Shenoy, K P Anant Prabhu, etc, felt that widening of the road to 60 ft width is an impossible proposition. They suggested for the shifting of the bus stand on an experimental basis to Bandimutt, and then review the traffic density in the town. Councillor, Navinchandra Hegde, pointed out that the municipal council has not yet taken a decision to widen the road to 60 ft. Former councillor, T Ramachandra Nayak, came up with the idea of building of an alternative road.

Tahsildar, Jagannath Rao, welcomed. Municipal president, Pratima, taluk panchayat president, Jayaram Salian, vice-president, Ravindra Kumar, deputy superintendent of police, Santosh Kumar, and municipal chief officer, Gopalakrishna, were present at the dais.