‘Walls’ of the vehicular overpass will divide the town, thereby affecting commercial activities, students and other residents, says Nagarika Horata Samithi

Residents of Gurupura Kaikamba started a dharna on February 16 to demand an elevated road (flyover) instead of a vehicular overpass (VOP) for Mangaluru-Solapur National Highway 169 through Kaikamba. They stated that the VOP divides the town.

While the National Highways Authority of India has been widening NH 169 between Bikarnakatee in Mangaluru and Sanoor in Karkala to four lanes, it has proposed a VOP at Gurupura Kaikamba, a growing suburb, between Mangaluru city and Moodbidri. The up and down ramps for the VOP run for almost one kilometre each in both directions, thereby walling the town.

Assembled under the banner of Kaikamba Nagarika Horata Samithi, the residents demonstrated placards, chanting “Bedave beda, Tadegode beda” (we don’t want the preventive wall) and “Tade gode nirmana, Kaikambada nirnama” (the preventive wall will destroy Kaikamba).

The residents want the elevated road, which starts near Kandottu from the Mangaluru side, to end at Kaikamba Market, thereby ensuring that life below does not get disturbed by the “wall”. If the elevated road is not constructed, the trade activities of Kaikamba town will get destroyed. Further, people, including students and devotees visiting religious places around the area, will have to walk for a long distance to avail buses and other public transport services, the residents fear.

The Samithi has decided to continue the dharna till February 19. If it does not get any proper response from the authorities concerned addressing the issues, a mega public meeting will be organised at Kaikamba on February 20, said Samithi president Vijaya J. Suvarna.