The Hindu : Karnataka / Hubli-Dharwad News : Come monsoon, this highway turns into a water body

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 17, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad

Come monsoon, this highway turns into a water body

Girish S. Pattanashetti

Complaints fail to evoke action from authorities As the road lies in a low-lying area, it gets submerged easily and the absence of tar on the road makes it even more dangerous for the passing vehicles

NO POND, THIS: This stretch near Hebasur in Hubli taluk on the State highway between Hubli and Sollapur gets waterlogged whenever it rains.

HUBLI: When there is a downpour, the route near Hebasur village in State Highway No. 28 connecting Hubli to Bijapur is transformed into a pond, often leaving newcomers to the route confused as to which way to go.

Complaints from the public and visits from political leaders, who had promised to take up the issue with the concerned Government departments, has not changed the plight of the highway in the last two years.

Hundreds of vehicles ply on this road daily.

Submerged

As the road lies in a low-lying area, it gets submerged easily and the absence of tar on the road makes it even more dangerous for the passing vehicles. Adding to the problem is the sewage emanating from the housing clusters on either side of the road.

Heavy vehicles have often been trapped in the mud and there have been incidences when it has taken days for the drivers to remove their vehicles out of the mud. The likelihood of vehicles overturning is also high owing to the slippery nature of the road.

The problems are not restricted to vehicle owners alone, as villagers too have found it difficult to ride their bullock carts on this road.

Proposal submitted

The maintenance of this highway comes under the annual maintenance contract of the State highways.

After inspecting the road, the Public Works Department (PWD) has proposed to increase the height of the 260 mt. road stretch by 2 mt. on either side and commence the asphalting work.

The proposal is estimated at approximately Rs. 8 to 10 lakhs and is now with the Karnataka State Road Development Corporation.

According to sources in the PWD, tenders have been invited for the work, and the work is expected to start soon.

Repair sought

The President, BJP State-unit, Jagadish Shettar, and Prahlad Joshi, MP have visited the spot and instructed the concerned officials to take up the matter on priority basis.

The villagers have urged the district administration to take up at least temporary repair works, to reduce the risk involved in travelling on this road.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section

Come monsoon, this highway turns into a water body

Farmers promised good seeds

Water supply schedule for Hubli-Dharwad

Deshpande not to decline KPCC President's post

Grameena bank to adopt `balawadis'

Railway employees' protest