Road work linking Panemangalore with Narikombu and Shambhur in Bantwal has drawn complaints from local residents over an abrupt closure, excavation and inadequate traffic arrangements, prompting Congress leader B. Ramanath Rai to inspect the site and seek immediate supervision of the project.
The work is being carried out from the service road opposite Sathyashree Temple near the Panemangalore National Highway. Residents told Rai that the connecting road was suddenly closed and dug up using a JCB machine, creating difficulties for people who depend on the route for regular travel.
Umesh Bolanthur, a former KDP member, said the road’s steep section is too narrow and should be widened after lowering its height. He also sought arrangements for two-way traffic, pointing out that hundreds of vehicles use the road every day to travel between Panemangalore, Narikombu and Shambhur.
The disruption has pushed motorists towards an alternative route running from Jain Basadi through an underpass to Narikombu Government Primary School. According to the report, that road is already in severely damaged condition, raising concerns over whether it can safely handle traffic diverted from the main route.
During the inspection, Rai telephoned officials of the National Highways Department and asked them to repair the alternative road immediately and permit two-way vehicle movement. The request was made in response to the condition of the route currently being used by motorists.
Rai also instructed Bantwal tahsildar G. Manjunath and taluk panchayat executive officer Sachin Kumar, who were present at the site, to monitor the road work and take responsibility for its supervision. The report does not specify the project’s contractor, sanctioned cost, completion deadline or the authority responsible for the road’s execution.
The inspection was attended by Mamata S. Gatti, chairperson of the Cashew Development Corporation, along with Chitranjan Shetty Bondala, Albert Menezes, Krishnappa Poojary, Ravindra Sapalya, Prasad Ganiga, Nithyananda Kurchipalla, Umesh Nelligudde, Narsappa Amin, Shailesh Poojary, Lokesh, Monappa Ninnipadpu and Satish Shediguri, among others. Further progress will depend on action by the National Highways Department and local officials to restore usable access and oversee the ongoing work.
