Mixed response to bundh opposing NHAI decision to drop Padubidri bypass

Mangalore Today News Network

Padubidri, Nov 21, 2013: There was a mixed response to the Padubidri bundh call given  by the Heddari Santrastara Samithi on November 20, Wednesday in protest against the NHAI moves to go ahead with the four-laning works at Padubidri town after dropping the bypass proposal.

Though a few shop keepers, car and tempo drivers supported the  bundh call in Padubidri town, almost all shops in Kelagina Pete and Karkala road were open. Even autorickshaw drivers of the area did not take part in the protest.

 

Over 100 persons took part in a protest march taken out by the Samithi  upto the Gram Panchayat office where memoranda enlisting the demands were forwarded to the Gram Panchayat President Vijaya M Amin and Tahsildar Gururaj.

The Tahsildar assured to bring the demands to the notice of the NHAI as well as the Deputy Commissioner. NHAI Officer Ramachandra was also present on the occasion.

Santosh Kumar Shetty, Dr. YN Shetty, Dr NT Anchan, Gopal Shetty, Vishu Kumar Shetty  Dayan Andrade, Budan Saheb and others took part in the protest.

Auto drivers protest against agitation : In another development,  the agitators while   taking out a protest march reportedly shouted slogans against auto rickshaw drivers who failed to take part in the protest. This agitated the autorickshaw drivers who  staged a protest  in front of the police station demanding justice. Finally, Inspector Ajmat Ali summoned both the groups to the station and held  talks. The issue was settled after those who raised slogans against autorickshaw drivers tendered an apology.