The National Highway Department placing forth a proposal before the union government to construct a bye-pass at Padubidri as part of the Suratkal-Kundapur four-laning project, will only render several poor families homeless.
Already, thousands of acres of land in the vicinity has been acquired for Suzlon and Nagarjuna projects. The main reason for this bye-pass project proposal is the instigation by a few local builders. The NH Authority had decided to begin the four-laning works right from the heart of Padubidri. But the all of a sudden decision to have a bye-pass has been a shock. The people of Padubidri are very well aware as to who are behind this proposal.
Way back in the year 1998, the National Highway Department had instructed the builders to raise constructions 40 meters away from the centre of the Highway. In the year 2000 again the Government had issued a notification saying the 40 meter land from the centre of the road, on either side, belonged to the Highway Department. But several buildings have been raised by encroaching this 40 meter space, with the cooperation of the local administration. Padubidri town is already congested and matters have been made worse by some of the unauthorized buildings which do not have proper parking facilities. No action is taken even when vehicles are parked right on the road itself.
But it is now not proper on the part of the Highway Authority to cause hardship to the poor people by imposing the bye-pas project. The proposed bye-pass will pass through Deen street and Ramnagar. But this place is mostly occupied by retied officials, farmers, minorities and people belonging to backward classes. There are over 100 houses here. Several of the families which have availed loans to construct their houses, are likely to be rendered destitutes due to this project.
Let the National Highway Authority decide to construct a fly-over here without falling prey to any lurings. The fly-over would not harm anyone. In fact the Highway Department had plans to construct a fly-over at Padubidri decades ago. Hasn’t a fly-over been constructed at the congested Suratkal ? Then why should a bye-pass be constructed at Padubidri?
Dinesh M Padubidri
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