Water Pipeline Burst During Highway Expansion in Bhatkal Wastes Lakhs of Litres, Traffic Disrupted

Bhatkal is once again facing serious inconvenience due to the long running national highway expansion project. Residents say negligence by authorities and the contracting company has led to a fresh crisis in the town.

Near Ranginkatte, a major drinking water pipeline was damaged during the road widening work. As a result, thousands of litres of clean water have been spilling onto the roads every day for nearly a week. The continuous leakage has caused water to accumulate on the streets, forcing the contractor to use heavy machinery daily to clear it, which is further adding to resource wastage.

This situation has drawn sharp criticism, especially as water levels in the Kadavinakatte dam continue to drop due to the summer season. Locals have expressed concern over the irony of water scarcity on one hand and such large scale wastage on the other.

Officials from the municipal body claim they had already informed the highway authority about the need to shift the pipeline before construction began. However, the lack of coordination between departments appears to have resulted in the current problem.

The construction delays and poor planning have also severely affected traffic movement across the town. Areas near the bus stand and other busy stretches are witnessing frequent congestion. Irregular parking and construction debris along the roadside have made it difficult for vehicles, particularly buses, to pass through safely, increasing the risk of accidents.

Frustrated residents have urged higher authorities to step in immediately. They are demanding urgent repair of the damaged pipeline to prevent further water loss and a more organized approach to completing the highway work so that normal traffic conditions can be restored.