Residents block NH 66 demanding underpass at Ambalpady Junction

Udupi, Feb 26: A large number of residents of Ambalpady, Kadekar and Kediyoor on Friday blocked the National Highway 66 for about 20 minutes at the Ambalpady Junction here, demanding that an underpass at the junction be constructed there to ease traffic congestion.

Addressing the protestors here, Bhaskar Shetty, co-convener of Rashtriya Heddari Balakedara Hitarakshana Samiti, said that four important roads join at Ambalpady junction. The four roads that joined at the Ambalpady junction connected the district government hospital, Ambalpady, Kadekar and Kediyoor villages, Malpe and Mangaluru. A large number of people travelled from the three villages to Udupi for work and educational purposes.

As per the original plan, an underpass should have been constructed at Ambalpady. However, two years ago, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) decided to have a foot over-bridge. But the NHAI had not consulted the local people of the area before arriving at this decision.

Lack of an underpass would force people to use the service road from Ambalpady to Karavali junction to enter the city. This would be a long route. Hence, it was essential that an underpass be constructed at Ambalpady, Mr. Shetty said.

Vishu Shetty, social activist, said in his address that the ongoing work on widening the NH 66 was very close to Ambalpady junction and therefore it should be stopped till the underpass issue was settled. It was essential that the leaders of all political parties took a united stand on this issue, he said.

Altaf Ahmed, vedike co-convenor, said that the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party should put pressure on Shobha Karandlaje, MP, to take up the issue with the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, he said.

Udaykumar Shetty, BJP leader, said that Ms. Karandlaje had informed him over telephone that she would visit Ambalpady on Saturday and hold discussions with the officials. “We will take a delegation to New Delhi to meet Mr. Gadkari and impress upon him the need for an underpass,” he said.

Mallikarjun, Materials Engineer, National Highways Department, rushed to the spot, pacified the protestors and assured them that the work would be suspended temporarily at Ambalpady and a decision be taken after Ms. Karndlaje held a meeting. “We will inform the NHAI about the demand of the people,” he said.