Mangaluru: Permanent restoration works on National Highway 275, which offers road connectivity between Madikeri and Sampaje, have not yet been initiated even a year after landslides left several parts of this stretch damaged.
Locals residents complained that though temporary repair works have been carried out, the particular stretch is vulnerable to landslides during rainy season thus posing a risk for motorists. The authorities should take measures for the permanent restoration of the roads before the onset of the rainy season they said.
They further voiced that normal life, as well as business, gets affected owing to the imposition of vehicular restrictions during the rainy season. The damages can be severe if the Payaswini river overflows, they expressed.
The Madikeri-Sampaje Ghat road links the coastal districts to other parts of the state whenever the Charmadi and Shiradi Ghats are blocked. People from these districts can travel to Mysuru and Bengaluru via Sampaje Ghat. Major commodities such as fuel are transported to Kodagu via the coastal districts.
During official meetings, MLA K G Bopaiah had alleged that forest officials had been posing obstructions to the repair work.
The government has sanctioned a grant of Rs 58 crore for permanent restoration works and tenders have been floated for the work, informed an engineer from the national highway division.
