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The Hindu

Crater-ridden NH 66 on Surathkal-Nanthoor stretch drives motorists into tizzy

The inability of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to undertake total renewal and repair of the B.C. Road-NITK Surathkal Port Connectivity Road before the onset of Monsoon has left the highway, particularly NH 66 between Nanthoor and Surathikal in a perilous condition threatening the safety of motorists. While the Authority could undertake total road renewal of about 2 km stretch between NITK and Surathkal flyover, early rains thwarted its plans of renewing the remaining stretch between Surahtkal and Baikampady and repairing the Baikampady-Nanthoor stretch, leaving the highway in a mess. Series of potholes and craters dot the right hand-side of the carriageways, that is, next to the medians, caused by constant waterlogging and wear and tear on account of regular movement of heavy goods vehicles. The entire stretch lacks proper rainwater drainage system on the carriageways as a result of which water stagnates next to the medians. The top layer of both the carriageways on Baikampady-Kulur stretch that passes through New Mangalore Port, has completely worn out presenting an awful picture. While cars and other bigger vehicles somehow negotiate the stretch with difficulty, two-wheeler riders risk their life to pass through the stretch. Two-wheeler rider, Surathkal Janatha Colony resident Mahammed Ashraf who fell on the road in his attempt to negotiate a crater at Panambur, was crushed under the wheels of a tanker truck on June 9. Traffic snarls As the vehicles move slowly to negotiate the battered stretches of the highway, traffic snarls and traffic jams have become an order of the day, rued Manjunath Prasad, who regularly rides between Surathkal and Mangaluru. While motorists would drive or ride almost blindfolded when it rains, they wade through clouds of dust when it shines, he regretted. Delayed start Though the Port Connectivity Road, NH 75 between B.C. Road-Nanthoor and NH 66 between Nanthoor-NITK Surathkal was developed by a special purpose vehicle, New Mangalore Port Road Company Ltd., the SPV had abandoned the maintenance work long ago. Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta with his persistent efforts, got funds sanctioned from Union Road Transport Ministry for total renewal and repair through NHAI. While the contractor was finalised on April 10, the work commenced on April 24 even as it began to rain heavily from May third week.