The four-lane road construction on National Highway 169 from Karkala Bypass Road to Mala Gate has faced severe criticism for delays and substandard work, causing significant public inconvenience.
With a budget of ₹167 crore, the project has been ongoing for two years, leaving local residents and motorists grappling with poorly maintained roads. The widening has resulted in dug-up public roads, making home access difficult. During the monsoon, waterlogging on the unfinished roads has damaged nearby houses, wells, and agricultural lands.
Concrete drains, constructed higher than the road, have further exacerbated the problem by obstructing vehicular access to homes and shops. Local protests have arisen due to these disruptions.
Mismanagement has plagued the project, with inconsistent road elevations and poor-quality construction materials. Reports of unsuitable iron and inadequate cement in concrete slabs have surfaced, and a recent incident saw a mini lorry stuck in a collapsed drain, underscoring the construction flaws.
The National Highways Department has not yet addressed these issues. Daniel Ranger, President of the Aam Aadmi Party in Karkala, has called for protests to highlight the misuse of public funds.
Local resident Satish Kumar criticized the project’s execution, stating, “The work has caused nothing but problems for the public. The quality is so poor that we struggle to even reach our homes. The actions of the irresponsible officers and contractors are condemnable.”
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