Bhatkal: The construction of the four-lane National Highway 66, initiated over a decade ago, remains incomplete, causing significant hardships for local residents. Despite repeated appeals, the Highway Development Authority, district administration, and elected representatives have remained silent on the matter.

In response, the Bhatkal Nagrik Horata Samithi, comprising leaders from various social organizations and communities, convened to address the issue. During a meeting at the inspection bungalow, committee members discussed strategies to address the delays in the highway expansion project.

Concerns were raised about the apparent lack of attention from the contractor, IRB Company, towards resolving longstanding issues related to the highway expansion. Despite being inaugurated two years ago, the project remains unfinished, while toll collection by IRB continues uninterrupted.

Despite these challenges, the district administration has failed to take action against the contractor, and elected officials, including the Member of Parliament and the Uttara Kannada district in-charge minister, have largely remained silent on the matter.

Given the situation, the Horata Samithi deemed protest and legal action necessary. Plans were made to consult legal experts and gather relevant information regarding the halted highway extension work. A large-scale protest is scheduled to take place at the IRB toll gate within the next week.

Present at the meeting were leaders including Inayatullah Shabandri, Satish Kumar Naik, Rajesh Nayak, Advocate Victor Gomes, Mohiuddin Ruknuddin, Advocate Imran Lanka, Krishna Naik, Venktesh Naik, Taufiq Beary, Ashfaq KM, and SM Syed Parvez, among others.