Udupi Residents to Stage ‘April Fool’s Day’ Protest Over Delayed Indrali Railway Overbridge
Udupi: Frustration over the protracted construction of the Indrali railway overbridge has spurred the Udupi National Highway Agitation Committee to announce a large-scale protest scheduled for April 1st. The committee aims to highlight the significant disruptions experienced by residents due to the stalled project, which has remained incomplete for nine years.
Speaking at a press conference, the Chief Coordinator of the committee, Amrith Shenoy, stated that the protest is a direct response to unfulfilled promises from central government representatives, local Members of Parliament, and officials from both the Railway and National Highway departments. The Indrali overbridge, designed to alleviate traffic congestion between Udupi and Manipal, has been plagued by delays, creating daily challenges for commuters.
The protest is slated to commence with a rally expected to draw between 5,000 and 6,000 participants. Marchers will proceed from Kalsanka to the Indrali construction site, where the demonstration will culminate at 2:30 PM. Organizers have incorporated an “April Fool’s Day” theme into the protest, intended to satirize what they perceive as misleading assurances from local authorities regarding the project’s completion.
Mr. Shenoy specifically criticized former MP Shobha Karandlaje and current MP Kote Srinivas Poojary for setting multiple deadlines – including the end of December, January, and March – without tangible progress. “These deadlines have come and gone, yet the overbridge remains unfinished,” he stated. “We are therefore compelled to organize this demonstration to force a resolution.”
The Udupi National Highway Agitation Committee is actively encouraging public participation, particularly from those directly affected by the construction delays. “We urge residents to join us in large numbers and ensure their voices are heard,” Mr. Shenoy emphasized.
The press conference was attended by key figures from the Udupi National Highway Agitation Committee, including President Keerthi Shetty Ambalapadi, and officials such as Hariprasad Rai, Ansar Ahmad, Kushal Shetty, Mahabala Kunder, Charles Ambler, Abdul Aziz, Meenakshi Madhav, and Rafiq Karamballi. The committee hopes the protest will garner significant attention and expedite the long-awaited completion of the Indrali railway overbridge.
