Mangaluru: The unfinished flyover on the National Highway at Thokkotu was 'inaugurated,' by 'VVIPs', on Sunday! This mock inauguration was a unique protest organised by Left organisations against the delay in the completion of the flyover, which has been pending for years.
The flyover is part of the four-laning project of the National Highway 66. The flyover work has been “in progress” for the last several years and is causing a lot of inconvenience to the people. The public and various organisations have expressed their anger against the delay in the work at Thokkotu near Ullal and also Mahaveera Circle in Mangaluru. Though several deadlines have passed, the work is yet to be completed. The protest on Sunday was organised by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Ullal unit.
Three activists, who wore masks and were dressed like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari and Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, came near the flyover, “inaugurated” it and then stood on it to wave to the people.
Addressing the protest, DYFI District Secretary Santhosh Bajal said the mock inauguration of the flyover was to highlight the delay in works. “Nalin Kumar had assured the people that the flyover would be opened by December-end. But even 50 percent of the work has not been completed yet. We are creating awareness among the people about the delayed project,” he said.
