Much-needed road bridge coming up for river island in Udupi
The Hindu
Being built by Karnataka Neeravari Nigam, the ₹19-crore bridge connects Hattikudru with Basruru
Responding to the decades-old demand of the residents of Hattikudru — a river island on the Varahi — for better connectivity to the mainland, Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd. (KNNL) is building a road bridge connecting the southern part of the island with panchayat headquarters Basruru in Kundapur taluk of Udupi district.
Hattikudru, spread across about 500 acres, was already connected to the mainland on the northern side to Hattiangadi, a pilgrim place. However, residents had to take a detour of about 14 km via Kundapur or use boats to reach Basruru. The island, with about 300 households, has a population of around 2,500.
More than 2.6 lakh village and ward volunteers in Andhra Pradesh, once celebrated as the government’s grassroots champions for their crucial role in implementing welfare schemes, are now in a dilemma after learning that their tenure has not been renewed after August 2023 even though they have been paid honoraria till June 2024. Disowned by both YSRCP, which was in power when they were appointed, and the current ruling TDP, which made a poll promise to double their pay, these former volunteers are ruing the day they signed up for the role which they don’t know if even still exists