Karnataka - Udupi   

Committee seeks immediate repair of National Highway 17

Udupi: The deplorable condition of National Highway 17, which runs from the northern tip to the southern tip of Udupi district, has left the people seething with anger.

Convener of the Save National Highway 17 Committee B. Govindaraj Hegde told The Hindu that there were six severely damaged stretches on NH 17 between Shiroor in Udupi district and the Kochi turnoff in Mangalore: the stretch from Sasthan to Santhekatte; Yermal to Mulki; Marvante to Trasi; Tallur to Kundapur; Byndoor to Uppunda; and the Kochi turnoff in Mangalore.

According to Mr. Hegde, the National Highways Department was not ready to undertake major repairs on NH 17 because the stretch between Surathkal in Dakshina Kannada district to Kundapur in Udupi district had been marked for widening to a four-lane road. “But land acquisition for the widening work has not started yet. It will take a minimum of one year for the widening process to begin. Till then people have to use NH 17 as it stands. Should the people suffer till the process of widening bgins,” Mr. Hegde asked.

The traffic density on NH 17 in Udupi district has been estimated at 33,500 vehicles a day. According to Mr. Hegde, besides traffic density, heavy rain and the movement of overloaded lorries from Bellary district are responsible for the poor condition of NH 17.

The committee has announced that it will call for a “bandh” in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts on December 1 if the severely damaged reaches on NH 17 are not repaired by then. Deputy Commissioner P. Hemalatha said that the district administration had released Rs. 2 crore from the Calamity Relief Fund for the repair of NH 17. The critical stretches on the highway would be completely re-laid while patchwork would be done in other places. The Chief Engineer of National Highways, Bangalore, has allocated Rs. 90 lakh for the repair of NH 17 near Padubidri. “We are expecting funds from the Union Government. The repair work of NH 17 is expected to be completed by November 20,” she said.

Krishna Rao, Assistant Executive Engineer, National Highways Department, Kundapur, said that a 15-km-long stretch on NH 17 had been taken up for repairs in Udupi district. Ms. Hemalatha said that Rs. 5.75 crore had been released for the repair of State highways and major district roads in Udupi district.

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Committee seeks immediate repair of National Highway 17

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