Mangaluru: Residents of Kodiyala village in Sullia taluk have threatened a non-political agitation and an election boycott unless the entire 4.5-km Kaniyoor Kattattaru–Keremoole to Kodiyala–Kallagadde Temple road is rebuilt, alleging that it has remained in a dilapidated condition for the past eight years despite repeated appeals and resolutions.
Kodiyala is about 8 km from Bellare and 4.5 km from Kaniyoor, and the road is used for daily commuting, access to essential services and transporting milk from local farmers. He questioned the utility of concreting only 300-350 metres, for which the MLA recently laid the foundation stone, while the rest remains in poor condition. Stay updated with the latest Mangaluru news.
Local resident Subrahmanya KM told TOI that the road is a vital link connecting residents with Kodiyala, Bellare and Kaniyoor. Several people have suffered minor injuries after their vehicles skidded, and milk has been spilt when people transporting it fell off their two-wheelers,” he said. Subrahmanya said residents have carried out temporary repairs for years, including pooling money to lay gravel to make the road usable for schoolchildren. Villagers, he said, would support any candidate who gets the road repaired, irrespective of party, but boycott elections if their demand remains unaddressed. Another resident, Lokesh Talithadi, said the road is crucial for school transport and local livelihoods. Residents said the Ponadka-Murulya, Angaradka-Mittakatta, Purladi-Maletharu and Malengri-Kayarthadka roads under Kodiyala gram panchayat limits are also in poor condition. Kodiyala panchayat development officer Praveen Kumar said the panchayat had used its own funds and 15th Finance Commission grants to concrete damaged portions of the zilla panchayat road one or two years ago. The road needs a substantial grant, which the panchayat cannot afford,” he said. Kumar said the panchayat had passed a resolution at the previous grama sabha seeking funds for reconstruction and submitted it to the MLA.
The decision to intensify the agitation and boycott the next election was taken at a recent village meeting. “The road has deteriorated so badly that people find it difficult even to walk on it. During the monsoon, school buses struggle to use the stretch, while loose gravel and damaged surfaces pose a risk to two-wheeler riders. He also warned that the dilapidated Moovappe bridge near the DKZP school could collapse and cut off connectivity. Its condition also deters auto-rickshaws from entering the village, making it difficult to take elderly residents for emergency treatment. “School vans struggled to use the stretch during the monsoon. It had also restricted heavy vehicles on the damaged Moovappe bridge during the monsoon and included the bridge in a rain-damage repair funding proposal. Download the TOI App.