Congress to hold Padayatra ‘Complete National Highway and Save Lives’
Mangaluru: “The National Highway road work from Hassan – Gundya – B C Road is incomplete and it is posing danger to the people who use the National Highway. The District Congress has decided to hold a Padayatra from Nelyadi – B C Road on January 14, 15 and 16. Thousands of people will take part in the three-day Padayatra”, said the former district Minister In-charge B Ramanath Rai in a press meet held at the DCC office Mallikatta here on January 12.
Addressing the mediapersons Ramanath Rai said, “To develop the national Highway which connects the port, the then UPA government had taken up the NH development project in 2014 and released Rs 821 crores. As per the project, a four-lane road was to be constructed from B C Road to Addahole (Gundya) and Hassan to Maranahalli and the contract was given to the prestigious L&T company. Now the L&T company has backed out and the work is incomplete.”
Ramanath Rai further said, “Financial crisis has been the main reason for the L&T company to back out of the project. For the National Highway projects, the Non-Banking Financial Corporation (NBFC) and Infrastructure leasing and financial services provide financial support. But the NHAI has to pay Rs 16,000 crores to Infrastructure leasing and financial services (IL & FS) and the IL & FS company is facing a huge financial crisis. Now the NHAI does not have funds to pay for the contracting company L&T and the IL & FS company is facing a financial crisis due to the note ban. This is the gift from Prime minister Narendra Modi. Due to his wrong decision of demonetization the country is facing financial crisis. The Bengaluru – Mangaluru National Highway project has been abandoned and many innocent people have lost their lives due to bad roads.”
Ramanath Rai also said, “The BJP MP has said a bunch of lies while being unable to complete 63 KMs of the National Highway the State highway work. Modi has been giving false hopes to the people and the MP of DK is unable to complete 63 km of the National Highway work in the district. When I was the minister I had assured to intensify my protest if the Bengaluru – Mangaluru National Highway work would not be completed. We are now holding a three-day Padayatra from January 14 to 16. The district minister in-charge will inaugurate the Padayatra on January 14th at 9:00 am at the Nelyadi Bus Stop. All the Congress leaders will join the Padayatra. On January 16, Dinesh Gundurao will also take part in the Padayatra.”
When asked about the rumours that Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat has got life threat, Rai said, “If we do good we do not have any threats to our life. I don’t know anything about the life threats anyone has received. If there is any threat to his life, the police will take action accordingly”.
Congress leaders Rajshekhar Kotian, Madhav Mave, Saleem, Santhosh Kumar Shetty, Praveenchandra Alva, Kodijal Ibrahim and others were also present.
