Udupi : The residents of Ambalapadi and neighbouring villages staged a protest rally demanding construction of an underpass in the bypass region.

Speaking on the occasion, the National Highway Balakedarara Hitharakshana Samiti coordinator Prof Sripathy Tantri said that an underpass is the need of the hour. “The underpass in the region has become essential and the residents in the area have decided to take up stringent protest until their demand is met.

The proposal ignoring the previous plan, wherein the underpass was incorporated, has disrupted the lives in the region. A level-crossing in the area would be disastrous as there is massive traffic in the bypass area. An underpass would ease vehicular movement and also prevent traffic congestion. The vehicle movement from Ambalapadi, Kadekar and Kidiyur will, especially, be benefited. Also, the pedestrians, especially the aged and children, will find it hard to cross four roads, including the service roads. The patients who would go for government hospital will also have problem in crossing the stretch,” he explained.

Prof Tantri alleged that an underpass, which was in the initial plan, was changed, following the interference of former Parliamentarian Jayaprakash Hegde. “Hegde wrote the letter to the then Transport Minister Oscar Fernandes, demanding a foot overbridge instead of an underpass on February 14, 2012. The letter was responsible for the change of plan. Although the construction work of the national highway is in the last phase, it is not too late. The plan can be changed and underpass is possible,” he added.

Industrialist B R Shetty said the underpass should be constructed as the traffic in the region makes it humanly impossible to cross the stretch without an underpass.

Puttige mutt seer Sri Sugunendratheertha Swami said the demand for an underpass is a genuine demand and the concerned people should ensure that the requirement of the people is realised. “Traffic jam is like the blockage in the heart, when precious time is lost. The confusion over the underpass construction at the Katpadi junction should also be clarified immediately,” he urged.