Udupi Deputy Commissioner Swaroopa TK has issued directives to district officials to guarantee the safety and smooth flow of traffic on designated alternative routes. This action comes in response to the ongoing construction of a vehicle overpass at the busy Katpadi junction on National Highway-66.
Addressing Public Grievances on Diversion Routes
Presiding over a meeting at Rajatadri on Monday, the DC reviewed the progress of the road overbridge work. While noting that construction has already commenced and vehicles are following the issued diversion notification, she acknowledged complaints from local representatives. Leaders and gram panchayat members highlighted that the rerouting of heavy vehicles through certain rural areas was causing significant public hardship.
The core issue identified was the diversion of heavy trucks and vehicles travelling from Shirva towards Udupi. These vehicles are being redirected via the Moodubelle-Denduru Katte and Alevoor routes. However, these roads are narrow, and some bridges along the stretch are in a dilapidated state, raising safety and congestion concerns.
Immediate Inspections and Repairs Ordered
Instructing prompt action, Deputy Commissioner Swaroopa TK directed officials from the Public Works Department and the Panchayat Raj Engineering Department to conduct immediate inspections of the alternative routes. She mandated necessary steps, including strengthening bridge capacity and carrying out other urgent improvements, to prevent hardship for the public.
Echoing these concerns, former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake pointed out that several roads are so narrow they can only accommodate one heavy vehicle at a time. This leads to traffic snarls when smaller vehicles approach from the opposite direction. He emphasized the need for road widening at specific locations and the repair of weak bridges, adding that he would discuss the matter with the public works minister to seek the release of required funds.
Seeking Solutions for Local Residents
Local gram panchayat representatives present at the meeting stated that the increased vehicular movement on these interior roads is disrupting the daily commute and safety of rural residents. They proposed exploring alternative diversion paths closer to the actual construction stretch on NH-66 to alleviate the pressure on village roads.
The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Abid Gadyal, DSP Prabhu DT, Abdulla Javed Azmi, elected representatives of local gram panchayats, district-level officers, taluk tahsildars, executive officers, and engineers.
