Udupi Santhekatte Road: The story of night-time struggles

Team Udayavani, Sep 25, 2024, 8:31 AM IST

Udupi: So far, much has been written about the day-time struggles, but very less has been revealed about the hardships during the night. Even the Deputy Commissioner, district administration, National Highway authorities, MPs, district-in-charge ministers, and MLAs are only partially aware of the situation. This is why Udayavani’s representative conducted a night survey, to spill light on the reality during darkness.

After 10 PM, the road sees heavy vehicle movement, mainly trucks carrying goods. As soon as they reach the Santhekatte road diversion, some vehicles come to a sudden halt while others drastically slow down. The first hundred meters of the turn are fine, but after that, the potholes begin. Drivers have to carefully navigate these massive vehicles through the potholes. One slight mistake, and the vehicle could overturn. This is the case for vehicles on both sides of the road.

To add to the chaos, there are no streetlights in areas where accidents are most likely. Drivers constantly try to avoid the potholes, increasing the chances of collisions. The glare from oncoming vehicles’ headlights worsens the situation, making it almost inevitable for drivers to hit a pothole, lose balance, and veer off course. Night driving is considered much more difficult than during the day.

Bus Woes

In undivided Dakshina Kannada, private buses must run on schedule. They have their own system to ensure this. Every two to three minutes, a bus runs between Kundapur and Udupi. If a bus is even a minute late, the driver behind will blare the horn in frustration. This pressure forces them to weave through the traffic, frequently using the horn, which creates panic for other drivers.

Most two-wheeler riders struggle on the service road, which is in bad shape. Riding on this road means they risk getting stuck under another vehicle. The rains have only made things worse, making the depth and width of potholes indiscernible.

Immediate Action Needed

If district-in-charge ministers, people’s representatives, district administration, and the National Highways Authority can come together and find a temporary solution, it would greatly ease public distress.

Wait for Two Months

Officials claim that the roadwork will be completed in two months. They’re asking the public to wait until the permanent road is ready. However, locals, who have seen previous promises on streetlights and railway bridges in Udupi-Manipal Highway, remain skeptical. The demand is now for a road fit for travel, not a permanent one.

‘We want a road fit for travel’

It’s been one and a half years without a permanent tar or concrete road. Even the temporary road, built before construction began, didn’t last long. After just one rain, the road’s condition deteriorated. People are now demanding a road fit for traffic, as fixing the service road alone will not suffice.

Wet Mix Is Not Enough

One month later, there’s no assurance of a solution. Wet mix alone will not solve the issue. Service roads should have been ready on both sides by now. The delay in roadwork means that for three months, the road has been in a terrible state. Now, people are waiting to see what, if any, solutions will be provided in the coming month.

Work Is Speeding Up

We’ve instructed the National Highways Authority and the contractor to speed up the work. They’ve increased the number of laborers. However, constructing a permanent road with tar or concrete is not possible at this stage. The focus is on fixing the service road.
– Kota Srinivas Poojary, MP

District Commissioner’s Opinion

The problem will persist for another month. Once the service road is repaired, the situation may slightly improve. We’ve recently inspected the site. For now, wet mix is the only temporary solution.
– Dr. K. Vidyakumari, Deputy Commissioner, Udupi

Patience Needed

This is the opinion of the National Highways Authority. We are applying wet mix daily to fill the potholes, but heavy rains have prevented us from completing the repairs. We plan to fill all the potholes within the next 10-15 days. However, a permanent tar or concrete road cannot be laid during this period.
– Abdul Javed Azmi, National Highways Project Director

~Translated version of Kannada article by Raju Kharvi Koderi