Local residents at Nellikkatte junction staged a protest on Tuesday to draw attention to chronic damage to the Kerala–Karnataka border road caused by trucks carrying loads in excess of the permitted capacity. The stretch between Nellikkatte and Muguli, approximately 3.4 kilometres, has reportedly suffered significant wear after repeated passage of heavy vehicles transporting soil and red laterite powder.
Overloaded trucks worsened road condition and safety concerns
According to departmental records, the road’s design capacity is a maximum of 18 tonnes, but villagers say many trucks routinely exceed that limit. They told reporters the heavy traffic has rendered sections of the road almost impassable and posed a danger to schoolchildren and other commuters who use the route during the day.
Protesters at the junction demanded immediate enforcement measures, including a ban on over‑weight lorries during daytime hours, clear direction from traffic authorities and the installation of warning and regulatory signboards. They also urged the mining department to coordinate with local authorities to ensure that heavy vehicles approved to carry red laterite powder are routed only on upgraded stretches of road.
The demonstration briefly disrupted movements after a tree fell in Muguli in the morning, temporarily halting traffic. In solidarity with the protest, bus, autorickshaw and commercial vehicle operators between Kanyana and Uppal withheld services for a short period. The action drew the attention of district officials and engineers to the longstanding complaints from road users.
District Panchayat assistant engineer Jagadeesh and Motor Vehicle Inspector Pramod M. Bhat of the Bantwal regional transport office attended the protest and offered assurances that measures would be taken. Following their assurances, the demonstrators agreed to withdraw the protest. Local leaders and elected representatives who joined the protest included members of the Karopadi and Kanyana gram panchayats, as well as several community elders and activists.
Residents said they have repeatedly lodged complaints with authorities and representatives, but responses have been slow or insufficient. They insist the road must be fully repaired in a manner that prevents recurring damage, and they called on the district administration to act before tensions escalate into a larger movement.
Community leaders proposed both short‑term and long‑term steps: immediate repair of the worst damaged stretches, clear enforcement of the 18‑tonne legal limit, installation of regulatory signage and the reinforcement or redesign of the road where authorised heavy haulage is necessary. They urged that restrictions be introduced during school hours to protect children and pedestrians.
Officials did not provide a detailed timeline for repairs at the scene, but the pledges to study the issue and coordinate with the mining department were welcomed by residents. The protest highlighted broader concerns about rural road maintenance and the impact of heavy industrial traffic on local safety and livelihoods.
As a next step, residents expect the district administration to issue clear directives to transport and mining authorities and to draw up a repair schedule. They warned that if demands are not met promptly, the agitation could regain momentum.
Key Takeaways:
- Residents at Nellikkatte junction protested overloaded trucks that have severely damaged the 3.4 km Kerala–Karnataka border road.
- Protesters demanded strict enforcement of the 18-tonne limit, installation of signboards and a ban on heavy daytime traffic to protect schoolchildren and commuters.
- Officials met demonstrators and promised action; locals want permanent repairs and road strengthening for authorised heavy haulage.
