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Udupi, April 29  The locals under the leadership of Santhekatte Nagarikara Hitharakshana Vedike staged a token flash protest against the irresponsible and delay of working of Santhekatte, Kallianpur National Highway 66 underpass near Indira Petrol Pump here on Monday, April 29.

The large number of residents near the Santhekatte area gathered to press their demand against the havoc condition of Santhekatte for the students, locals, businessmen and other communities. The protesters were waiting since 10 am for the local MLA and Highway authorities who arrived at 11.45am. Addressing media persons who gathered on the protest site, Dr. Vincent Alva, Principal of Milagres College, Kallianpur said that since two and half years, the locals and the students at large are severely suffering due to Santhekatte NH 66 junction which is the place moving towards all the way. Large number of students and the senior citizens are especially suffering due to havoc on irresponsible work on the main road.

He said that presently the situation at Santhekatte is a severely chaotic situation. Hence, we tried to bring this issue to the authorities concerned but no response was averted. There is no bus stand or auto rickshaw stand either which members of the public are confused about the boarding of bus or other. Due to the problems over in Santhekatte, some buses have cut their trips. Presently there are some degree students and within a month the numbers of student communities will rise when the school reopens. Not only the students, a large number of public are suffering due to the unscientific planning and execution of work on the national highway, he said.

Dr Vincent Alva along with other members of protesters demanded the local people’s representative and authorities to speed up the work of the service road and provide regular transport to the Santhekatte junction.

Dr. Aakashraj Jain, Medical Practitioner said to the media persons that the Santhekatte has been developing fast and it is also called new Udupi which means it is the center for trade and business, educational place, market and other which will be large moving of people place in Santhekatte. Due to havoc in the road work in Santhekatte for two years, the life of the locals worsened. Before the start of the underpass road, there was the problem of Covid situation. After that, the problem of underpass work on the highway started. In the last three years, several accidents took place and some lost their lives. He said that we are not against developmental works, but need to solve the problems of the people in quick action. Not only the students but a large number of people in this very hot sun are intending to walk after getting down from the bus at a distant place to the junction of Santhekatte.

He said that the people of Santhekatte are presently in a dire situation and need to make proper arrangements for the service road and better transport facilities for the people at large. Work should be done on a timeline and even properly starting the other portion of the underpass, a proper service road should be constructed at the earliest. It is possible to speed up the work due to development of modern technology and employing more working people at jobsite, he said.

At last, local MLA Yashpal Suvarna along with Highway authorities visited the protest place and consulted with the protesters. At the first stage, Yashpal Suvarna became angry with protesters for using politics on the issue while he saw some of the politicians were there on the protest site. He said that he instructed the contractor to make proper arrangements for the service road within a short time to encourage the people. There was a public demand to use the underpass for the vehicles traffic towards either side. Now there is demand that service roads should be constructed at the earliest. He instructed the contractors to speed up the work of the service road. He also said that if my instructions are not followed by the contractors, I will bring the issue to the notice of higher authorities. Police department, highway authorities will take input from the locals and make a decision on traffic diversions. There will be some problems faced by the locals which we need to bear. If the bus facility is stopped, I will check and instruct the RTO officials to restart the bus service.

Yashpal Suvarna inspected the highway road from Ashirvad to New Santhekatte market along with the highway authorities. The Milagres College students, locals, leaders of Santhekatte Nagarikara Hitharakshana Vedike, some members of different organizations were present during the flash protest and warned the certain authorities that if their demand was not met at the earliest, massive protest will be conducted.