DUST MENACE: The dust storm on the Suratkal-Mangalore road in Mangalore reduces the visibility on the highway leading to accidents. — Photo: R. Eswarraj

MANGALORE: It is a fortnight since the rains have stopped. But the officials of PWD, State National Highways, National Highways Authority of India, Mangalore City Corporation and zilla panchayat engineering division have still not opened their eyes to the plight of the people. Roads maintained by these bodies have gone from bad to worse.

The worst affected is still the 37-km stretch between Suratkal and B.C. Road, which was handed over to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in 2004 for conversion into four-lane highway. The stretch was a 35-minute drive but it now takes more than two hours to cover the distance. The stretch between Suratkal and Mangalore (19 km) takes one hour to cover. The wear and tear on the vehicles and fuel consumption is almost double point out the motorists.

The stretch is so bad that many private bus operators have stopped operating on these routes. Since the rains have stopped, the Suratkal-Mangalore stretch of the National Highway 17 is always covered with dust. Many residents, shopkeepers and those who use this road have complained of lung infections.

The Kanara Chamber of Commerce, The Kanara Small Industries Association, The Karnataka State Bus Owners Federation, various consumers' associations, pressure groups, NGOs and ordinary people have represented to the Government several times but action is yet to be taken.

The officials of NHAI, on condition of anonymity, have stated that the materials and labour force have already arrived in Mangalore but definite work orders are awaited.

The Mangalore City Corporation has promised that it will take up road repairs in the last week of October. The zilla panchayat engineering division also is gearing up for repairing the roads.

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