Congress workers and other residents on Sunday protested the deteriorating condition of National Highway 169 and delay in payment of compensation to those whose land was acquired for widening of land at Parakala in Udupi on Sunday.
The protesters stopped vehicular movement for some time and planted banana saplings in some pits.
Addressing the protesters, Leader of Opposition in Udupi Municipal Council Ramesh Kanchan said potholes have developed on the national highway and this is causing inconvenience to motorists. The residents of Parakala were finding it difficult to walk on the highway. Holding MLA Raghupati Bhat responsible for the condition of the highway, Kanchan said that immediate action should be taken to make the highway walkable. He said that Parakala, where voters have been supporting the BJP for a long time, is being neglected by the state government for development works. He said he would intensify his protest if the neglect continued.
Another protester said that those whose land was acquired for widening were not given compensation. There was a disparity in the way compensation has been worked out. The protestor said that the state government should resolve the issue at the earliest.
The road widening work of Malpe Teerthahalli NH 169A is being done by the NH Division of the State Public Works Department.
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