Poor road conditions in DK–Udupi: MLA Manjunath Bhandari urges CM for immediate repairs
Mangaluru: Continuous rains and heavy vehicular traffic have severely damaged roads across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. The deteriorating condition of highways, state roads, and service roads has led to a sharp increase in road accidents, posing a serious threat to public safety.
In 2025 alone, Dakshina Kannada district has reported 702 road accidents, resulting in 122 deaths and 815 injuries. A significant number of fatalities involve pedestrians and two-wheeler riders. Highlighting the alarming situation, Legislative Council member Manjunath Bhandari has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging urgent repair works.
The Kundapura–Tirthahalli State Highway 52, spanning 93 km, connects several key towns and villages. However, the road has not been widened in the past 40 years, causing severe traffic congestion. The Kandlur bridge, constructed in 1960 across the Varahi river, is now on the verge of collapse, making its reconstruction essential.
The major ghat roads of Agumbe, Shiradi, Charmadi, Balebare, Sampekatte, and Nagodi are extremely narrow, leading to year-round traffic jams. Even ambulances face obstructions during emergencies. The poor state of these roads is also damaging local trade and tourism in the coastal belt and temple towns of the region.
While several state highways have been upgraded to four lanes with Asian Development Bank (ADB) assistance, State Highway 52 has been excluded, drawing criticism from local residents who see it as discriminatory. Citizens and organizations have demanded that funds be mobilized through ADB, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), or the BOT (Annuity) model to upgrade the road.
Local residents have called for immediate repair of highways, reconstruction of the Kandlur bridge, widening of State Highway 52 into a four-lane road with national highway status, and construction of tunnels in ghat sections to ease traffic congestion.
With 122 deaths recorded in Dakshina Kannada district alone in 2025, the situation has reached a crisis point. The MLA has urged both the state and central governments to act without delay, emphasizing that improving road infrastructure is vital not only for public safety but also for the economic and tourism growth of the coastal region.
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Bengaluru: Commercial building fire brought under control, two rescued
Bengaluru (PTI): A fire broke out in a multi-storey commercial building here on Friday evening, following which two people who were trapped on the terrace were safely rescued, officials said.
The incident occurred at around 5.30 pm at a commercial building located on Coles Road, they said.
However, no casualties were reported, officials added.
According to officials, the blaze started on the terrace, where a pantry and storeroom are located. The situation led to panic as the building is located adjacent to a petrol bunk, raising fears of a possible explosion.
Two people trapped on the terrace due to the fire were rescued by a police team along with Fire and Emergency Services personnel, a senior police officer said.
Four fire tenders were pressed into service, and after nearly an hour of intense firefighting, the blaze was brought under control.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, police said, adding that further investigation is underway.
