The Sakleshpur Taluk Administration has taken up a drive to demolish buildings on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru Road in Sakleshpur as a prelude to the proposed widening project. For years, people of the taluk wanted the widening of the busy road, where many accidents were reported. Whenever an accident was reported, people hit the streets and stopped traffic to demand road widening.
The drive began on Sunday morning under the leadership of G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, Assistant Commissioner. With the help of earthmovers, the officers demolished the structures in the presence of policemen. “Of 140 buildings, around 80 structures that would come in the way of the proposed four-lane road have been demolished. Owners of around 40 have obtained a stay from the court for the demolition. Except those, all will be removed. Meanwhile, we will move the High Court against the stay,” Mr. Reddy told The Hindu on Monday.
More than 30,000 vehicles commute on this road that connects Bengaluru and Mangaluru. Traffic jams are quite common here. All vehicles including heavy trucks and luxury buses travel on this stretch. The residents blocked the road when accidents occurred and demanded its widening. During a public grievances meeting convened by Hassan Deputy Commissioner Rohini Sindhuri Dasari at Sakleshpur recently, many residents raised this issue.
“We have submitted a proposal to the State government for the widening of the two-lane road into a four-lane. The estimated cost would be around ₹8 to 10 crore. As soon as the proposal is accepted, the work would start,” the officer said.
It is said that Minister for Public Works H.D. Revanna and H.K. Kumaraswamy, MLA, Sakleshpur, have given their consent for the widening. Representatives of the business community in the town tried to convince the people’s representatives against the road widening. However, the residents support the project.