<p>The 45-km highway bordering Mysuru and Kodagu districts was in a pathetic state for decades due to neglect. However, for the surprise of many, one of the sustained campaigns on Facebook has led to the rebuilding of the Hunsur-Gonikoppal Road.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Through news portal www.coorgtourisminfo.com, an online campaign to improve the road condition was started by registering a petition with Petition India, where members of the public can register their online support in May 2012. The petition was addressed to then Virajpet MLA and Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah. <br /><br />Though Bopaiah assured in the media that the works on the road will be taken up, nothing materialised. Subsequently, Bopanna started the ‘Repair Hunsur-Gonikoppal Road’ campaign page on Facebook. With the campaign getting a positive response, IAS officer P Manivannan, who was then the Chief Project Officer at Karnataka State Highways Improvement Project, took notice of the issue.<br /><br />Manivannan convinced PWD Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa on the urgent need for starting the work. Though work on the road was taken up, work came to a standstill on account of the non-release of payment to the contractors. In November 2012, portal editor Bopanna met Governor Hansraj Bhardwaj and submitted a memorandum, urging for resuming the work. <br /><br />The Governor directed the government to take up the repair of the road.<br />Though the work commenced, it had to be deferred due to the monsoon. Subsequently, works could not be taken up due to non-availability of construction materials. Finally, works on two stretches of the road was completed late last year. The repair of the Panchvalli- Anechoukur was completed recently.<br /><br />The ‘Repair Hunsur-Gonikoppal Road’ page received 1,335 ‘likes’ on Facebook. On the future of the Facebook page, Bopanna said: “Though the purpose of the page has been achieved, the Facebook page will continue its campaign against poor road conditions in Kodagu and other road-centric issues.”</p>
<p>The 45-km highway bordering Mysuru and Kodagu districts was in a pathetic state for decades due to neglect. However, for the surprise of many, one of the sustained campaigns on Facebook has led to the rebuilding of the Hunsur-Gonikoppal Road.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Through news portal www.coorgtourisminfo.com, an online campaign to improve the road condition was started by registering a petition with Petition India, where members of the public can register their online support in May 2012. The petition was addressed to then Virajpet MLA and Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah. <br /><br />Though Bopaiah assured in the media that the works on the road will be taken up, nothing materialised. Subsequently, Bopanna started the ‘Repair Hunsur-Gonikoppal Road’ campaign page on Facebook. With the campaign getting a positive response, IAS officer P Manivannan, who was then the Chief Project Officer at Karnataka State Highways Improvement Project, took notice of the issue.<br /><br />Manivannan convinced PWD Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa on the urgent need for starting the work. Though work on the road was taken up, work came to a standstill on account of the non-release of payment to the contractors. In November 2012, portal editor Bopanna met Governor Hansraj Bhardwaj and submitted a memorandum, urging for resuming the work. <br /><br />The Governor directed the government to take up the repair of the road.<br />Though the work commenced, it had to be deferred due to the monsoon. Subsequently, works could not be taken up due to non-availability of construction materials. Finally, works on two stretches of the road was completed late last year. The repair of the Panchvalli- Anechoukur was completed recently.<br /><br />The ‘Repair Hunsur-Gonikoppal Road’ page received 1,335 ‘likes’ on Facebook. On the future of the Facebook page, Bopanna said: “Though the purpose of the page has been achieved, the Facebook page will continue its campaign against poor road conditions in Kodagu and other road-centric issues.”</p>
