The Madikeri City Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the district administration and the concerned departments to expedite the road work connecting the recently damaged KSRTC Bus Stand to the old private bus stand in Madikeri, stating that the delay has caused severe inconvenience to traders, motorists, residents, and tourists.
Chamber President Santosh Anvekar, along with office-bearers, submitted an appeal to the district administration, the Madikeri City Municipal Council, and other concerned authorities, seeking the immediate completion of the ongoing road work.
The Chamber stated that the slow pace of the project has resulted in significant hardships for the public. Following the landslide and the subsequent diversion of traffic, congestion in the city has increased considerably, disrupting the smooth movement of vehicles on a daily basis.
The altered traffic arrangements have particularly affected school children, senior citizens, local residents, and tourists.
The diversion of KSRTC bus services has also created inconvenience for passengers due to the absence of adequate traffic management and timely alternative arrangements.
The Chamber pointed out that commercial activity in Madikeri is already affected during the monsoon season. The disruption of road connectivity has further aggravated the situation, leading to a sharp decline in business.
Santosh Anvekar stated that trade in Madikeri city has reportedly fallen by nearly 60 per cent, resulting in substantial financial losses for local traders.
Considering that Madikeri is the district headquarters, the Chamber urged the authorities to accord top priority to the completion of the road project.
It demanded the immediate deployment of additional workers, the use of modern construction techniques to accelerate the work, and completion of the project within the next five days to restore smooth movement for vehicles and pedestrians.
The Chamber also requested the authorities to make suitable parking arrangements to ease traffic congestion and ensure the orderly movement of vehicles in the city.
