Bantwal: The condition of Ambedkar road is in such a bad condition, that no vehicles can traverse it anymore. This road in Kadeshivalya village in Bantwal has not been repaired since almost 20 years.

Even after several requests made to the people’s representatives, the demand for a better road remains unfulfilled.

The Ambedkar road in Kadeshivalya village connects Perlapu to Amei. The entire stretch of road – running for about three kilometers is in a very bad shape, full of potholes, causing inconvenience to commuters. The road also leads to a Mosque and a temple. Peoples’s representatives who visit the village every now and then, have, many a time, promised to repair the road but now these are turning out to be mere promises as no action is visible on the ground.

Now the auto rickshaw drivers have decided to go in for a massive protest along with locals against the poor road condition in the village. They have complained about it to the local panchayat, and district  MLAs.  The rickshaw drivers lament that the bad road is eating into their earnings.  

The roads are also pressured by heavy vehicles like heavy trucks and buses, which are often over laden, they say.

The village has hundreds of dalit families and the road is named after Ambedkar. The locals are fed up with repeated complaints made to local leaders. Now they have demanded to solve the issue at least, giving due respect to the name of Dr B R Ambedkar who had fought for the rights of backward classes.

Adam Perlapu a rickshaw driver by profession speaking to NewsKarnataka said, “no one is listening to our demands. Those who travel on this road will definitely suffer back pain. The administrative system is sleeping”, he added.

Ramakrishna from Nekkilady another rickshaw driver said, “the road should be repaired within 15 days. If they fail to do so we will hold a massive protest and the road will be blocked. Do not test our patience”, he said.