BJP leader's son triggers social media debate with post over Mangaluru-Udupi NH 66 woes
Mangaluru: A social media post by the son of former Karnataka Home Minister and Senior BJP Minister late VS Acharya, against the pathetic conditions of NH 66 between Udupi and Mangalore has led to a social media debate.
Dr. Kiran Acharya on Sunday wrote in his Facebook post to call out the threatening condition of the NH 66 between Udupi and Mangaluru. He shared pictures of the potholes adding that some of them can even swallow unsuspecting two-wheelers. He also added the roads also had dangerous water puddles and other road hazards, all on a tollway.
In his post, Acharya also shared a post wherein it was written “Rs 55 toll fee. For every paisa you pay, a pothole is guaranteed.”
What caught the public eye and triggered an online debate was Acharya’s conclusion of the post where he stated that there was no point in tagging any official or politician – minister as they have taken the public for granted.
Several users soon jumped into the conversation and the comment section was filled with grievances and concerns of people. Users also complained about the ignorance of the administration and ministry about the safety of common citizens.
Users also shared images and videos of huge water puddles, potholes, and traffic congestion on the NH 66 to counter the claims of Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari who has time and again claimed the NH 66 widening work was done smoothly and is nearing completion.
Some of the users tagged Nitin Gadkari and other officials in the comments section in a bid to bring the issue to their notice.
Earlier this month, a Karnataka BJP MLA from Ankola-Karwar constituency Rupali Naik had also countered Gadkiri’s claims on ‘near-completion’ of the project.
On July 2, Gadkari, the union minister of road transport and highways tweeted a series of photos, saying, "The project for 4-Laning of Goa/Karnataka Border to Kundapur section of NH-17 in the State of Karnataka is near completion". He had claimed that 94 percent of the work was done and the project would be open by December 2022.
However, Naik countered Gadkari's claim, saying “They have not completed much of the work. The company has just made roads wherever they have acquired the land. Wherever they can, they have built culverts. They have made the roads, but where are the service roads? How should the locals cross over to the other side?" The New Indian Express reported.
“In many places, the work has not started. Pedestrians, normally rural people, will be hit badly due to this. They have not installed even a single streetlight,” she alleged. “There are no drains all along the stretch. The water accumulated should be diverted. But the roads are waterlogged,” she had said.
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New Zealand crush Sri Lanka by 61 runs in T20 World Cup Super Eights tie
Colombo (PTI): Rachin Ravindra claimed 4/27 as New Zealand crushed Sri Lanka by 61 runs in their Group 2 Super Eights clash of the T20 World Cup here on Wednesday.
With the win, New Zealand took a big step towards the semifinals. Sri Lanka were knocked out, though they still have one match to play.
Chasing 169, Sri Lanka made a terrible start to crawl to 20 for two in the powerplay and failed to gain any momentum.
Ravindra then ran through the brittle Lankan middle order to help the Kiwis limit the co-hosts for a paltry 107/8.
Earlier, skipper Mitchell Santner (47) and Cole McConchie (31 not out) led New Zealand's fightback after middle-order collapse as the Kiwis posted 168/7.
New Zealand suffered a batting collapse as they slipped from 75/2 to 84/6 during which they also lost three wickets without adding a run.
Brief Scores:
New Zealand: 168 for 7 in 20 overs (Rachin Ravindra 32, Mitchell Santner 47, Cole McConchie 31 not out; Maheesh Theekshana 3/30).
Sri Lanka: 107 for 8 in 20 overs (Kamindu Mendis 31; Matt Henry 2/3, Rachin Ravindra 4/27).
