Be careful of every step you take along this part of the highway!

Team Udayavani, Sep 20, 2019, 3:37 PM IST

The national highway 66 here is wide. It is comfortable without any potholes. It’s a pleasure to see from a distance. But the reality is different. Wrong side traffic movement due to the presence of  a service road here, dangerous diversions, non-provision of underpass or overpass where required, complete lack of signage boards giving clear directions, traffic that effectively manages to create confusion at junctions… the four lane highway which should have been life blood vessels for free and comfortable travel has lost its route.

Udupi: NH 66 passing through Kapu passes over a flyover and like the rise and drop of the overpass here, the problems faced by pedestrian and vehicle users along the road to Katapady junction from here, rise and fall.

In Kapu, there is no service road near Marigudi-Vidyaniketan side located before the overpass and this has become a primary cause for the regular accidents occurring here. The turn provided to enter Kapu market while coming from Ucchila side is unscientific. The situation is so bad that vehicles enter her from all four directions. There is also an eternal presence of pedestrians here. But the width of the diversion here installed with the aim to handle the chaos is very narrow. Sometimes in the morning, police staffs are present here but that does nothing to deter accidents. The turn in front of the Masjid is of the same level of danger.

Service road required

The story of the vehicles coming from Gudi along the service road is altogether different. These vehicles proceed along the highway in the opposite direction thereby becoming the main cause for accidents here. The solution to the problem is the creation of service road on either side from Kapu Marigudi to the entrance of old Marigudi. Passing a little ahead after the flyover from Kapu to Katapady, the highway converts into a maze of potholes. They are patched and the patch gets ripped off.

It is a school zone in front of Dandateertha in Kapu and barricades have been installed here as a precautionary measure. But here too there is a lack of service road and signage board. While proceeding towards Kapu, the highway in front of Pangala Vidyavardhaka school is littered with potholes.

There is no limit to the problems in Katapady

The twin brother of the confusion ridden Padubidri junction is the Katapady junction located along the road to Shirva. This junction is renowned for its daily traffic density and vehicles merging in from all directions. Although the cops try to handle the traffic during the peak hours, smooth traffic is only a dream here. NHAI has willfully turned a deaf ear to the repeated demands for an overpass here. The problem regarding the bus stop has also not been resolved. For now, the service road itself acts as the bus stop.

Lack of service road everywhere

Another example to the negligence of the highway department towards constructing proper service road along NH 66 is near a temple at Yermal. This location too is an accident prone zone. Reason – lack of service road. Service road is also required near Ucchila market. There is a diversion near Paniyoor turn, but its existence is more of a danger.  Another example to prove that the installation of barricade is useless is the existence of this diversion. With the lack of service road, vehicles proceeding towards Mulooru from Ucchila market have not yet stopped moving in the opposite direction along the highway. Since service roads have not been created on either side, safe traffic movement is difficult.

The lack of service road is a major problem. We unnecessarily are forced to travel much ahead and come all the way back. Hence, the fares have risen inevitably. Let them build service road in the vicinity Yermal temple area at least – Anand, Auto rickshaw driver, Bada Yermal

You too can inform of any problem

Udayavani’s aim is to put an end to the rise in the number of accidents occurring along NH 75 and NH 66 which pass through DK district. You can provide your suggestions and opinions regarding these two national highways by Whatsapp with photos to 9632369999