Include Kannada on milestones, Umashree urges Centre

 Pointing out that milestones and highway hoardings in Karnataka were largely in English or Hindi, Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree has asked the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to include Kannada boards. 

Umashree, who shot off a letter in this regard to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday, has also cited instances of friction between Kannadiga road users and non-Kannadiga, employees deputed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), at the tollgates.

Stating that milestones in most states were in the local languages, apart from Hindi and English, she has said, “People from our own state, who travel on these roads, are continuously finding themselves in an alien atmosphere. It is a reason for worry, considering our resilient and emotional mindsets.” Further, she has appealed to the NHAI to employ locals at the tollgates.

“I earnestly urge you to consider and address these issues on priority so that the spirit of our Constitution is upheld,” the letter adds.