State overlooks DC's report

Govt gives consent for bypass ignoring people’s demand for widening of the road

Inspite of Udupi Deputy Commissioner favouring the widening of National Highway, the State government has given green signal for bypass in Padubidri.

The locals feel that with the laying of bypass, the work on fourlaning of road in Padubidri will be delayed.

As the work on fourlaning of road from Surathkal to Kundapur commenced, there was discussion on the widening of the road or creation of bypass in Padubidri.

Navyug Constructions which has bagged the contract for widening the road has already started the work on minor bridge at Kalsanka. In the backdrop of opposition for bypass in Padubidri, Udupi Deputy Commissioner Dr M T Reju had collected opinions from the public in the region on August 31. The public had opined that it was suitable to have the road widened rather than planning a bypass.

Hence, the DC had recommended for widening the road in Padubidri in his report. The report was sent to the Chief Secretary and the government. However, the state government has given green signal for the bypass by neglecting the DC’s report. Now the file is before the Centre. One has to wait and watch what decision the Centre will take for Padubidri.

The proposed bypass in Padubidri will start from Kalsanka situated on the eastern side of Padubidri and will pass through Padebettu, Ramanagara, Deen Street before joining the National Highway 66. The NHAI has decided to acquire 60 metre land in these areas for the bypass. As many as 58 houses including 28 houses belonging to Dalits are facing threat with the proposed bypass project.

DC report

The Deputy Commissioner’s report on widening of the road states that the fourlaning of road in Padubidri will save time and money. However, the bypass will be a costly affair.
In his report, the Deputy Commissioner had said that 12 acre land would be required for fourlaning of the road. However, for bypass, about 45 acre land will have to be acquired. There are few buildings beside the National Highway.

However, there is a need to evict several families to lay bypass road. About 14 families will have to be rehabilitated. As many as 45 houses will be affected with the Bypass project. As fourlaning of the NH-66 will have to be completed by December 31, 2012, it would be better to go for fourlaning of the road in Padubidri, the report clarified.

To approach Court

Bypass Virodhi Horata Samithi members said “the victims of Bypass have already decided to approach the Court. The elected representatives are hand in glove with the capitalists who own illegal buildings on either side of National Highway.”