Flawed design, poor maintenance cause for accidents on NH-66

Ex-mayor says repeated warnings have been falling on deaf ears

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Mangaluru

FORMER Congress corporators in Mangaluru have strongly criticised the NHAI for poor maintenance, flawed design, and substandard construction work on NH-66, blaming these issues for the increasing number of accidents along the critical coastal corridor.

Talking to reporters on Wednesday, former mayor Shashidhar Hegde alleged that repeated warnings about safety hazards on the highway, especially during Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) council meetings, have fallen on deaf ears.

"Despite raising the issue multiple times, the NHAI has failed to act. Repairs are usually carried out in May, only to be washed away by the June monsoons. It's a recurring failure," he said.