Manipal–Parkala NH work stalled for years: Locals plan protest on July 6

The long-pending roadwork on National Highway 169A between Manipal and Parkala — specifically in the Eshwarnagar–Kelaparkala stretch — has become a source of growing frustration among residents and daily commuters. With the highway construction stalled for years due to legal and technical hurdles, citizens are now blaming both the elected representatives and the district administration for their continued apathy.

Adding to their woes is the alternative road, which has severely deteriorated and is now nearly unfit for vehicular movement. Locals say repeated appeals to repair and asphalt the alternate route have fallen on deaf ears.

Phase-1 protest on July 6
In response to the prolonged inconvenience, residents of Manjunath Nagar and nearby areas have announced a peaceful protest on July 6, from 8 am to 9 am near the Narayan Guru Mandir junction in Parkala.

“The highway work must be completed at the earliest, and until then, the alternate road should be properly asphalted to ensure smooth commuting. If no action is taken following this protest, we will escalate our agitation with larger demonstrations such as padayatras (marches) and roadblocks,” said Dr. P.V. Bhandari, a leading voice from the protest group.

Work stalled due to land acquisition and technical delays
The four-lane roadwork between Kelaparkala and Parkala was halted due to land acquisition delays and technical issues. Reportedly, over 2,000 loads of soil were dumped into the low-lying areas to prepare for the highway’s foundation, but the site has since become overgrown with weeds and small trees due to prolonged inaction.

Though the Manipal–Udupi corridor is a crucial connection for the region, residents allege that both government officials and elected representatives have failed to address or even acknowledge the urgency of the matter.

With the main highway project left incomplete, commuters continue to use the old, narrow road, which has now developed massive potholes, especially near Kelaparkala and Parkala. Locals complain that although they’ve repeatedly submitted requests to the municipal authorities and National Highway officials, their appeals have been ignored.

During the monsoon, officials resort to temporary patchwork using wet mix, which residents claim is ineffective and dangerous given the region’s sloping terrain and heavy rains.

“The authorities are well aware that wet mix doesn’t hold up on such terrain during the monsoon, yet they continue to use the same outdated methods,” said one resident, reflecting the broader sentiment of neglect and bureaucratic indifference.

Residents are now united in their call for urgent action to complete the stalled project and restore the road infrastructure, warning that the upcoming protests will only intensify if their demands continue to be overlooked.