Bhatkal: The ongoing expansion work of National Highway 66 in Bhatkal taluk has turned into a dual menace. On one hand, the project appears far from completion, while on the other, the deteriorating road conditions are putting the lives of pedestrians and motorists at serious risk. Potholes, collapsed sections of the road, and scattered debris, including garbage, stones, and soil, have made safe travel a distant dream.
Adding to these woes are newly constructed speed humps that have turned into life-threatening obstacles, particularly for bikers and motorists. Intended to control speeding vehicles, these humps have inadvertently become a serious hazard.
Recently, traffic was diverted to an alternate route near Venkatapur bridge to facilitate ongoing construction. However, this has only worsened the situation. At the curve of the highway, drivers are forced to reduce their speed abruptly. The issue is compounded by two massive speed humps installed on this route just two days ago. Motorcyclists speeding from Shirali towards Bhatkal are often caught unaware by the humps, leading to sudden braking and loss of balance, significantly increasing the risk of accidents.
Heavy vehicles like trucks and tippers face similar challenges. When they approach the humps and apply sudden brakes, smaller vehicles and two-wheelers following closely behind are unable to react in time, leading to dangerous collisions.
Tragically, a young biker lost his life just 24 hours after a hump was installed near the Shirali check post. This incident has triggered widespread anger among local residents, who claim that these humps are barely visible during daylight and become even more perilous in the dark.
Adding fuel to the fire is the lack of proper street lighting. The contractor responsible for the expansion has yet to restore electricity poles that were removed during construction. For the past two years, large stretches of the highway have remained shrouded in darkness, posing a constant threat to travelers. Despite repeated complaints, neither the contractor company IRB nor government officials have taken corrective measures.
Temporary changes to the highway’s layout, whether due to construction or traffic diversions, continue to catch motorists off guard. This negligence often leads to devastating accidents, forcing innocent people to pay with their lives and property for faults that aren’t their own.
Despite the severity of the situation, elected representatives, officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and the contractor company have remained indifferent. Their inaction has left the lives of Bhatkal’s residents at the mercy of fate, with no visible solution in sight.
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