Bikarnakatte protest against incomplete NH13 repairs

Bikarnakatte protest against incomplete NH13 repairs

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Feb 10: A large protest march of people residing in Bikarnakatte wound its way from Nanthoor to Infant Jesus Shrine on Feb 10, Thursday, demanding immediate attention to be paid to the pathetic condition of NH13 stretch in that area. Interestingly, not a single political leader participated in this protest march, which the local people have called a “voluntary bandh.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The repair work of this road, which was schedule to have been completed in Dec 2010, is still pending, as a result of which thick clouds of dust rise into the air whenever a vehicle passes along the road. This has caused a wide range of health problems among the residents of the place. Moreover, pieces of crushed stone fly into the air whenever vehicles pass, endangering the lives of riders, motorists, as well as pedestrians.

The shops and commercial establishments of the area remained closed, and people united to raise their voices against the apathetic behavior of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the district administration. They also warned that they will gherao the NHAI office in Valencia if the road is not repaired within a month.

 
One of the residents informed reporters that the NHAI had sprinkled water along the road to control dust for two days. He also said that the residents are afraid that lack of proper drainage facilities in the area might cause artificial flooding once the monsoons set in.
 

On Jan 31, 2011, the local people had submitted an appeal to DC Subodh Yadav, in which they had mentioned the pathetic condition of the people in that area. Even the media had given wide coverage to the issue. The DC had promised that the road will be completed in just 10 days.