Residents of Udupi staged an unconventional demonstration on April 1, venting their anger over the stalled Indrali railway bridge project. Protesters adopted theatrical methods, including shaving their heads, dressing as beggars, and enacting a mock bridge inauguration to highlight official apathy.

The agitation, spearheaded by chief coordinator Amruth Shenoy and activist Anser Ahemmad, commenced at Kalsanka Circle and culminated at the incomplete bridge. Demonstrators carried banners, played traditional drums, and featured symbolic representations, including a tableau and a rooster.

Former minister Jayaprakash Hegde pointed to bureaucratic inefficiency, stating that a lack of coordination between railway and highway departments had crippled progress. He argued that unnecessary expenditures had taken precedence over timely execution.

Ex-minister Vinay Kumar Sorake accused the ruling BJP of neglecting infrastructure, blaming them for years of stagnation. He asserted that while accidents continue to claim lives, authorities focus on trivial matters instead of addressing urgent civic concerns.

Congress leader Ramesh Kanchan condemned repeated project extensions, questioning the competence of local representatives. He vowed stronger resistance if the bridge remained incomplete. Social worker Surendranath Kokkarne lamented that a child had lost his life in a nearby accident the same day, underscoring the dire need for improved roads.

As a final statement, agitators spray-painted “April Fool” on the unfinished bridge. With growing discontent, locals signaled an intent to escalate protests until authorities act.