Uppinangady, July 27: Persistent delays in the construction of the National Highway-75 service road have led to severe inconvenience for commuters in Uppinangady, with the underpass near Gandhi Park becoming completely waterlogged following recent rains.
The underpass, which connects Uppinangady town with Hirebandadi and surrounding areas, was submerged in rainwater, making it nearly impossible for pedestrians to cross and creating difficulties for motorists. Residents said the stagnant water and slush have turned the route into a major safety concern during the monsoon.
According to local sources, the issue is linked to pending land acquisition and construction work near Gandhi Park. Objections reportedly delayed work on a portion of the service road, preventing proper drainage arrangements. As a result, rainwater accumulated in the underpass instead of flowing out.
Local residents pointed out that timely completion of the service road and drainage works before the monsoon could have prevented the present situation.
Highway Engineer Assures Early Completion
Responding to public concerns, NH-75 Project Engineer Raghunath Reddy admitted that a few technical and logistical obstacles had delayed the progress of the service road construction in Uppinangady.
He said most of these issues have now been resolved and that the highway widening work at Nelyadi is in its final phase. With resources becoming available, the contractor will immediately intensify work on the remaining stretch in Uppinangady.
Reddy assured residents that the pending construction would be expedited on priority and that efforts would be made to resolve issues such as waterlogging, poor road conditions, and commuter inconvenience at the earliest.
Traders Warn of Protest
Reacting strongly to the situation, Prashanth D'Costa, President of the Uppinangady Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the business community had extended full cooperation to the highway contractor. However, he expressed disappointment that residents continue to suffer due to slow progress during the rainy season.
He warned that if the work is not expedited, traders and local residents would be compelled to launch a protest.
Public Questions the Silence
Film actor and director M.K. Math also criticised the condition of the road, questioning why there has been little public response despite hundreds of people using the route every day.
He said it was difficult to understand why such a serious civic issue affecting daily commuters had not received stronger public attention.
Keywords
Uppinangady underpass, NH-75 widening, Gandhi Park Uppinangady, Service road delay, Dakshina Kannada news, Puttur News, Citizen News Puttur, Hirebandadi Road, NH-75 waterlogging