Despite being a tourist attraction, Madikeri lacks in infrastructure

Though Kodagu has several tourist destinations, not much has been done to improve the facilities and provide good infrastructure to attract tourists.

One such tourism place which has been ignored is Gadduge near Madikeri.

The road leading to Gadduge is in a pathetic condition.

It was dug up from Madikeri to Gadduge two months ago, to take up asphalting works.

Two and a half months have gone by, and the works are nowhere near completion.

Gravel stones have been spread on the ground near the entrance of Gadduge.

As the area is on an incline, visitors cannot even tread on it.

The mud that has been removed from the road has been dumped on the drainage.

With monsoon only a few days away, there is fear of water clogging on the road as the drainage is blocked. Residents fear of water-borne diseases owing to clogging of water.

Though the Urban Development Authority has spent lakhs of rupees and developed a beautiful garden in Gadduge, tourists avoid visiting the place due to the poor condition of the road.

Rs 30 crore was released from the Chief Minister’s fund to develop roads and under ground drainage in Madikeri.

The district administration had called for the tender last year and the contract was allotted to BSR Company.

Of the total grant, Rs 24 crore was reserved for the development of road and Rs six crore was reserved for the construction of UGD. Rs 3.5 crore has been already spent on road development, the contractor claimed.

Councillor Prakash expressed his discontent over the delay in the works. The action plan was prepared one year ago and it was approved this March.

As per the tender agreement, the contractor also has to develop the road leading to Gadduge. But, the contractor has not asphalted the road even after three months, he said.

Another Councillor Ameen Mohisin alleged that the works carried out so far was unscientific.

Despite the CMC serving notices to the contractor, the situation had not improved, he said.

Meanwhile, in the CMC general body meeting, MLC M C Nanaiah directed the contractor not to take up the road work as monsoon is round the corner. He has instructed to fill the potholes for the time being.