Udupi: Land acquisition for roads opposed

The Hindu

Udupi, 11 May 2010: The Rashtriya Heddari 17 Chatushpatha Agalikarana Santrastara Horata Samiti has urged the Government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) not to unnecessarily acquire more land than required for widening National Highway 17.

Addressing presspersons here on Monday, convener of the samiti Ramdas Nayak said that the NHAI had proposed to widen the NH 17 between Surathkal in Dakshina Kannada district and Kundapur in Udupi district from 60 to 90 metres. Such a move would affect a large number of agricultural lands, houses, shops and places of worship.

The NHAI was following double standards in widening highways. While the width of the highway was 30 to 45 metres in Kerala and Goa, in Karnataka, it was 60 to 90 metres.

If the Government and NHAI failed to restrict the width of NH 17 between Surathkal and Kundapur to 45 metres, the samiti would intensify the struggle, Mr. Nayak said.

Members of the samiti Alan Mendonca, Panduranga Kiniand Ananth Shanbhag were present.