Mangaluru: Residents of Dakshina Kannada and Mangaluru city have raised strong objections to the continued collection of road taxes and toll despite the deplorable condition of highways and city roads. A formal representation was submitted to the deputy commissioner, police authorities, NHAI and the Regional Transport Authority, highlighting the alarming mismatch between revenue collected and services delivered.The representation by Dr B Radheshyam from Konchady points out that NH-66 and several arterial city roads are riddled with potholes, bottlenecks, and broken surfaces, directly leading to accidents and loss of life. He stated that Karnataka recorded 43,440 accidents and 12,321 deaths in 2023, placing it among the top six states with the highest fatalities. NH-66 alone witnessed over 250 accidents in two years, with several deaths in just the past few months. Citizens paying road tax and toll are given no guarantee of safe or time-bound travel, which was described as a deficiency of service. Judicial precedents (Supreme Court and high courts) have held that failure to maintain roads amounts to a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, right to life, he stated.Poor road infrastructure directly undermines Mangaluru’s ambitions under the Silicon Beach Programme, which seeks to position the city as a world-class urban, education, and technology hub, stated the petition, adding the city hosts over 225 technology companies employing 20,000 plus professionals, world-class educational institutions, multi-specialty hospitals, premium housing, and vibrant tourism sectors. Unsafe and unreliable roads threaten connectivity, commute safety, talent mobility, and economic growth, putting these initiatives at risk, it added.The petition calls for immediate repair and maintenance of highways, arterial roads, and city streets. It demanded public disclosure of accident black spots, bottlenecks, and rectification deadlines, with clear signage along all major roads. It also called for accountability and penalties for negligent contractors and officials, fair enforcement of traffic laws, withholding fines until road safety standards are met, travel-time guarantees for major corridors, ensuring safe and efficient commute for residents and professionals, and a compensation framework for pothole-related deaths, injuries, and damages.“Every unattended pothole is a potential death trap. If citizens can be penalised for negligence, so must the authorities, who fail in their duty to provide safe, serviceable roads. Moreover, maintaining safe and reliable roads is essential to safeguard Mangaluru’s position as a Silicon Beach city, ensuring it remains attractive for investment, talent, tourism, and world-class living standards,” said Radheshyam.
