Udupi: Hundreds of Ambalpady, Kidiyoor and surrounding area residents protested at National Highway 66 for demanding construction of an underpass at Ambalpady here on Friday, 26th February, 2016. Protesters blocked National Highway 66 for five minutes to protest against problems due to widening work on the highway without underpass.

Bhaskar Shetty, one of the protestors said that earlier as per the plan prepared by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) it was decided to construct an underpass or over a bridge here.

But now the plan has been changed that there is no underpass or over bridge at Ambalpady junction. The NHAI is not in favor of the citizens’ problems here due to the widening the Highway no. 66. NHAI should take opinions from locals prior to the highway’s plans.

He also said that it is blocking the gate to Goddess Amma at Ambalpady. Not only that Ambalpady junction connected to Kadekar, Kediyoor, Brahmagiri, Ajjarkadu Hospital, Kuthpadi, Sampeginagar, Kalmady. There are large numbers of students residing in these areas.

Udaykumar Shetty former, BJP district President also one of the protestors said that they planned to visit, the delegation of concerned people’s representatives as well as Surface Road Minister Nithin Gadkari about the problems facing by the people due to highway widening neither without underpass nor over bridge at Ambalpady. He also said that the delegation will plan to meet local MP Shobha Karandlaje and discuss the issue in detail. We united to fight for the cause which the residents of Ambalpady will face.

After blocking the highway for a few minutes, Highway authorities as well as engineers of the contracting company visited the protesting people along with the help of police.

Leaders of Ambalpady residents Vedike present in the protest. Shantaraj Aithal, Althaf Ahmed, Prakash Kodvoor, Bhaskar Rao Kidiyoor, Vishu Shetty, Vasanthi Shetty, Pradeep Chandra Kuthpady and large number of residents participated during the protest.