The Hindu Business Line : Protest against poor road conditions on national highway in Mangalore

"More craters on the roads than on the moon," read a placard at a protest march organised by the trade and industry bodies of Mangalore. They were protesting against the poor conditions of roads on national highway Nos. 17 and 48.

Representatives from various organisations, including Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Infosys and Karnataka Cashew Manufacturers' Association (KCMA), took out a march from NMPT circle to APMC circle on NH 17 on Monday.

Addressing the demonstrators, Capt J.P. Menezes, KCCI President, said that Mangalore region is all set to receive around Rs 1 lakh crore of investments in various sectors. Many American and Australians diplomats, investors and other captains of the industry, who visited Mangalore in the recent past, have lamented at the condition of roads on national highways.

The People's Action Committee On National Highways (PACONH), which includes representatives from various trade and industry bodies, will hold such marches every Monday on various stretches of national highway seeking a permanent solution to the problem, he said.

Mr Sudhir Albuquerque, Centre Head, Mangalore Development Centre, Infosys Technologies Ltd, said that various sections of industry have come together to draw the attention of the concerned on the major infrastructure problem in the region.

Mr K. Prakash Rao, KCMA President, said that the NH17 and NH 48 were last resurfaced during 2001. The Central Government should take steps to ensure that NH 17 and 48 are made motorable again. "As NH has become a `notional' highway, the entire traffic is trying to take alternative routes available, which are showing signs of deterioration themselves. In this regard, alternative routes should be resurfaced first so that the traffic diverted does not go through the same problem again on that route," he said.

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Protest against poor road conditions on national highway in Mangalore