Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Congress on Thursday staged a protest march and attempted to lay siege to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) office in Mangaluru, condemning the poor condition of national highways. The protest followed the recent tragic death of a woman who fell into a pothole while riding a two-wheeler.
Carrying a mock dead body on their shoulders, the protestors marched in procession to the NHAI office near Nanthoor, raising slogans against the central government and demanding accountability. Police had deployed tight security in the area. When protestors attempted to storm the office premises, MLC Ivan D’Souza, NSUI president Suhan Alva, and other Congress leaders were detained and taken away in police vehicles.
Allegations of negligence in road maintenance
Speaking during the protest, MLC Ivan D’Souza alleged that despite the central government releasing sufficient funds, road repairs had not been carried out. He charged that negligence by NHAI officials and the government had directly resulted in loss of lives.
He demanded that the families of those who have died due to potholes should receive a compensation of ₹1 crore each. “The lack of seriousness in maintaining highways is costing innocent lives,” he said, holding both NHAI and elected representatives responsible.
Criticism of NHAI and BJP representatives
District Congress president Harish Kumar lashed out at NHAI officials for citing reasons such as the pending removal of the Surathkal toll gate and shortage of funds for not taking up repair works. He demanded immediate filling of potholes to prevent further tragedies.
Led by Mithun Rai, protestors expressed their anger by throwing the mock dead body into the NHAI premises. Rai blamed NHAI, the local MP, and BJP representatives for the woman’s death, terming it an unnatural death caused by official irresponsibility. He repeated the demand for ₹1 crore compensation and pledged to intensify the agitation until all potholes along the highway are repaired.
Silence of authorities condemned
Former KPCC general secretary Padmaraj criticised the silence of NHAI officials, MPs, and MLAs despite repeated complaints and warnings about accidents and fatalities caused by potholes. He accused BJP leaders of focusing on religious issues instead of addressing public safety.
“Not only have they failed to act, but they also did not even visit the family of the deceased woman. This reflects complete insensitivity towards the suffering of people,” he remarked.
Wide participation in protest
The protest saw participation from several Congress leaders and workers, including J.R. Lobo, Mamatha Gatti, Appi, Shalet Pinto, Shashidhar Hegde, Shahul Hameed, M.S. Mohammed, Anil Kumar, Praveen Chandra Alva, Vinayraj, Harinath, Bhaskar K., and Dennis D’Silva.
Party leaders vowed to continue their agitation until NHAI undertakes immediate repairs and ensures safer roads for commuters in Dakshina Kannada district.
Conclusion: Public anger intensifies over pothole deaths
The protest underscored growing public anger over recurring pothole-related deaths and the perceived failure of authorities to address the issue despite repeated tragedies. With Congress leaders reiterating their demand for compensation and immediate road repairs, pressure has mounted on NHAI and the government to act swiftly.
Until visible improvements are made, the agitation is likely to continue, reflecting widespread frustration among citizens over road safety and accountability.