Maintain National Highways Regularly to Avoid Public Inconvenience: Udupi DC
Udupi, November 27, 2024: Udupi Deputy Commissioner Dr. K Vidya Kumari has directed contractors and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure regular maintenance of highways to facilitate smooth vehicle movement and prevent inconvenience to the public.
Presiding over a meeting held at the Rajatadri DC Office Auditorium in Manipal to discuss repairing potholes caused by monsoon rains and addressing other issues on National Highway 66, Dr. Vidya Kumari emphasized the need for timely upkeep.
“Vehicles traveling on national highways pay toll fees, and it is imperative to ensure smooth traffic movement. Public complaints regarding potholes and malfunctioning streetlights along the highways must be addressed promptly,” she stated.
The DC stressed the importance of coordination between contractors and NHAI officials for effective road maintenance. “When local residents file complaints about road issues, immediate action should be taken. If routine maintenance is carried out in coordination, there would be no need for repeated complaints to the district administration. It is not practical to convene meetings for every minor issue. Contractors and NHAI officials must proactively respond to public grievances and resolve them effectively,” she remarked.
Dr. Vidya Kumari also highlighted the NHAI’s online app for reporting issues. She urged the public to utilize this platform to upload complaints. She clarified that toll exemptions for residents within a 5-kilometer radius of toll plazas, as implemented earlier, would continue, but this would not apply to commercial vehicles.
Addressing specific local demands, the DC mentioned that the construction of service roads, median openings, and flyovers in Brahmavar would be prioritized. She added that decisions on road divider removal would be based on safety inspections and reports from road safety committee meetings.
During the meeting, local representatives raised several concerns, including pothole repairs, streetlight maintenance, removal of roadside vegetation, upkeep of pedestrian pathways, road shoulders, and painting of lane markings.
The meeting was attended by District Superintendent of Police Dr. Arun K, NHAI Project Director Abdullah Mohammed Azmi, tahsildars, contractors, and other officials.
