Save National Highway-17 stage voluntary road repair work

Udupi, Sep 10 (UNI) Following the 'non-responsive' attitude of the officials from the National Highways department to the deadline given till today for the repair of totally dilapidated National Highway stretch from Santhkatte to Sasthan in Udupi taluk, the 'Save National Highway-17' committee had decided to jump into direct action by holding 'Kar Seve' (voluntary road repair work) at the dilapidated stretch with the support from several other organisations on September 27.

Disclosing this at the press conference here today, convener of the committee, an apolitical organization Mr Govindraj Hegde said that during the one-day Kar Seve, all the huge potholes would be filled with concrete mix and the stretch would remain closed for five days till October 1 for curing.

Activists from various political parties, students' organizations, members from Stree Shakti Self Help Groups (SHGs), members from Canara Bus Operators Association, Rickshaw Owners Association and different other service organisations would participate in the Kar Seve, he said.

He said the committee will mobilise funds for repair work as the department had failed to do the work even after ultimatum. The committee had also informed the Deputy Commissioner and the National Highway department to make alternative traffic arrangements during the five-days curing period, he said.

Mr Hegde charged that the committee which held a protest demonstration on the national highway on August 22 had given the ultimatum to the department till today to repair the stretch.

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