Kulur junction turning into an accident zone!

• Difficult for traffic movement overlapping the highway

Kulur: The junction here is like the highway to the cemetery. Recently a local died on the spot after being hit by a vehicle here and many others have lost their limbs here.

Kulur Junction along the national highway is turning into an accident zone with the number of deaths and injuries on the rise here. With the lack of service road, the vehicles are compelled to take a turn onto the highway and proceed. Vehicle movement has been hindered with the vehicles being parked close to the highway and the road sides being encroached by petty shops and people selling fruits on vehicles. Besides, the situation is so bad that, it’s a death wish for a pedestrian to pass through here. Wine stores are right next to the highway and people under the influence of alcohol fail to notice oncoming vehicles on the highway and simply cross it there by only increasing the danger here.

Though the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) knows that Kulur junction is an accident prone zone, it has done the roadwork halfway with the excuse that there is no grant for widening the road and washed off their hands of the problem. But accidents occur here regularly and several people have become handicapped and some have lost their precious lives.

Service road necessary

The highway going from Mangaluru to Udupi needs to be further widened and space must be provided for pedestrians to pass through. The existing service road here is very narrow and is very difficult for two vehicles to pass. A electricity supply pole is hanging in the middle of the service road from Kavoor towards Mangaluru. There are no street lamps along the length of the highway. Hence, it is impassable for pedestrians during the nights. There is a church, school here and students find it extremely difficult to cross the highway here.

Transport facility to be inspected; request

On the heels of the death of a person on the Highway, Mangaluru North CI Amanulla visited the spot on Wednesday and inspected of the transport facility and directed to remove the vehicles parked on the road sides. Under the leadership of the Kulur Nagarika Hitarakshana Committee, the public submitted a request to the NHAI Project Director Vasan insisting on the widening of the road.

On this occasion, he informed that there is a lack of grant for widening the road. Action will be taken to conduct an inspection in this connection. He informed to send a request on behalf of the traffic department on the installation of high-mast street lights, road widening and other facilities and also assured that the demands would be fulfilled.

Parking facility essential

Vehicular movement has become difficult due to the parking of vehicles along the length of the Kulur highway. Therefore, the existing road needs to be widened and re-asphalted. A temporary footpath must be created for the benefit of the pedestrians. Parking space needs to be created beneath the overpass by leveling the space on either side of the overpass. Barricades need to be placed to check over-speeding  and other demands were placed,” said Guruchandra Hegdegangari, Kulur Nagarika Hitarakshana Committee.