Kodagu is geographically an unique district. Though the district had been projected as ‘rich’ district by outsiders, there are no less number of BPL families in the district. The poor depend on District Hospital for any kind of treatment including surgeries. Along with the people from Kodagu, poor from Mysore, Hassan and Kerala also depend on this District Hospital.
In spite of the shortage of doctors and equipment, there are no shortage of patients in the hospital. As the hospital is situated adjacent to the State Highway, the people have been demanding an underpass or an overbridge near the hospital. However, the demand had been pending for the last few years. The work on Mysore-Bantwal development works had been completed between Kushalnagar-Madikeri. The work on Madikeri to Sampaje needs to be undertaken.
If Karanataka State Road Development Corporation in association with CMC and District administration makes up mind, then they can build a fulfledged underpass or overbridge near the hospital.
In the meantime, the relatives of the patients have to cross the highway to get medicines from the medical shops during emergency risking their life. One needs to be very careful while crossing the road during night time.
The density of vehicles on highway is also more as all the vehicles on Mangalore-Mysore route pass through this stretch. After the BJP government came to power in the State, funds are flowing to the CMC. Rs 15 crore is available under Chief Minister’s Small and Medium Town Development Project every year. It is not difficult for the CMC to construct an underpass near the district hospital by spending a few lakhs. The CMC dropped the proposal of underpass from Choice Hotel to KSRTC bus stand recently. The project was dropped as the funds could not be utilised in time and the traders failed to vacate the land. However, there is no such problem in front of the district hospital to construct a small underpass on the model of Majestic or K R Market in Bangalore.
