Bhatkal: The IRB Infrastructure Developers, tasked with constructing the four-lane National Highway, is facing serious allegations of exploiting the public by collecting tolls even before completing the highway work. Residents of Uttara Kannada district have been enduring the consequences of the company's substandard work, including the lack of proper drainage systems and the absence of streetlights along the highway. Furthermore, the service roads in Bhatkal remain incomplete, and the cancellation of the flyover at the city circle, without any consultation, has added to the grievances.
In a meeting held in Bhatkal on Wednesday, the Uttara Kannada Jana Pra Sanghatana Okkoota and the National Highway Horata Samiti Bhatkal, voiced strong objections to IRB's handling of the project. The meeting raised concerns over the incomplete four-lane project, which was initially scheduled to be finished within three years but remains incomplete even after 11 years. The participants expressed severe dissatisfaction with IRB’s unscientific and low-quality construction practices.
During the meeting, two main courses of action were discussed. On one hand, it was agreed that a formal approach should be made to the district’s MP Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and district in-charge Minister Mankal Vaidya to address the issues. On the other hand, there were also talks about organizing district-wide protests by shutting down the National Highway and filing petitions in court against IRB.
Nagesh Naik Kaggal, president of the Uttara Kannada Jana Pra Sanghatana, laid out several demands:
Stop Toll Collection Immediately: Toll collection should be suspended until the highway construction is fully completed.
Completion of Pending Work: The IRB and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) should ensure that all safety measures, as recommended by geological survey reports, are implemented, and the remaining construction work is completed swiftly.
Compensation for Accident Victims: Due to unscientific construction methods, several accidents and incidents of landslides have occurred along National Highway 66. The victims of these accidents should receive adequate compensation from the NHAI and IRB.
Withdrawal of Cases Against Protesters: The cases filed against protest leaders during a peaceful padayatra (march) in Honnavar, following the landslide incident in Ankola, should be withdrawn. These protests were held to seek justice for the families of those killed in the landslide.
Naik further stated that any attempt to suppress the struggle for public rights would be strongly resisted. He announced plans for a widespread public movement across the district against IRB and NHAI, with a large-scale protest expected in the coming days.
The meeting was attended by Rajesh Nayak of the Bhatkal National Highway Horata Samiti, Inayatullah Shabandri, president of Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem Bhatkal, Altaf Kharuri, incharge president of the Bhatkal TMC, Advocate Imran Lanka, vice president of Jali Pattan Panchayat, V.N. Naik, vice president of the district organization, along with several other social workers including Chandrappa, M.D. Naik, Veer Bhadra, Raghvendra Naik, Ganapathi Naik, Pandu Naik, Adam Panambur, Abdul Raqeeb M.J. Nadvi, City Medical Iqbal, Ashfaque KM, Azeezur Rahman Ruknuddin Nadvi and Abdul Sami Kola. The meeting was presided over by Rama Moger of Bhatkal.
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