Mangaluru : The Karnataka Polytechnic (KPT) unit of ABVP on Tuesday staged a protest along NH-66, seeking remedial action to problems in its diploma section. The right-wing student body was upset that the polytechnic authorities had not paid attention to the building housing the polymer, chemical and electronics section, that was in a dilapidated condition, and not repaired it despite repeated reminders and memorandums.

The condition of the building constructed in 1975 is not up to the mark, said Vachan Kumar, president of the All College Students’ Union affiliated to ABVP. The students studying in the above-mentioned courses must attend classes in fear that the building may collapse, he said, justifying the move by more than 800 students to take to the streets to protest the issue. Their protest had a desired effect, with Mangaluru City North MLA Y Bharath Shetty visiting the spot.

Shetty, after inspecting the classrooms, directed the principal to shift the students temporarily to classrooms in other buildings. The MLA told the agitators that they have drawn his attention to problems faced by them, as well as similar problems that their peers in other colleges face due to poor upkeep of college infrastructure. “I will discuss your problems with the minister for higher education,” he said.