Two-lane road, tunnel opposed on Agumbe Ghat

Udupi: An organisation from Parkala submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner of Udupi, opposing the proposal to develop a two-lane road and a tunnel on National Highway-169A in the Agumbe Ghat area. Javaner For Change (JFC) members stated in the memorandum that the national highway connecting Udupi district with Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts passes through Agumbe Ghat. The Union ministry of road transport and highways invited tenders to prepare a DPR for the two-lane highway and a tunnel at a cost of Rs 2.3 crore.Agumbe, a part of the Western Ghats and a World Heritage Site, is an ecologically sensitive area. It is rich in biodiversity, including species such as the king cobra and the lion-tailed macaque. The forested hills block the monsoon winds coming from the Arabian Sea, causing heavy rainfall in areas such as Someshwara, Hebri, Karkala, Sringeri, Koppa, and Thirthahalli. The small streams originating and flowing here keep the rivers downstream vibrant throughout the year. The forum noted that the plan to construct a two-lane road and a tunnel in this region is unscientific and a waste of public funds.
They demanded that the existing road stretch on Agumbe Ghat should be maintained by filling potholes. Further, solutions should be found for the traffic issues at the sixth, seventh, and eighth curves on the Ghat stretch. Strict action should be taken against trucks transporting sand, stones, and other goods illegally on the road.Large tourist buses should not be allowed to move on the road, and they should be diverted to the Hulikal Ghat-Kerekatte Ghat route. Strict action should be taken against those who feed wild animals, especially the endangered lion-tailed macaques, JFC members urged, adding that the proposal to prepare a DPR for a two-lane road and tunnel should be dropped.