Villagers oppose flyover at Devalapura cross, seek alternative road safety measures

Residents of Hosahundi village in Kasaba hobli of Mysuru taluk have opposed the proposed construction of a flyover at Devalapura Cross on National Highway 275-K (Outer Ring Road), urging the authorities to drop the project and adopt alternative measures to improve road safety.

Residents of Hosahundi village in Kasaba hobli of Mysuru taluk have opposed the proposed construction of a flyover at Devalapura Cross on National Highway 275-K (Outer Ring Road), urging the authorities to drop the project and adopt alternative measures to improve road safety.

On Wednesday, a public grievance meeting took place in Hosahundi, during which villagers and others voiced their opposition to the works. The meeting was organised by the Forest Department and NHAI, Mysuru, to address road safety concerns near the Cross in view of a ‘black spot’. But, locals claimed that that the authorities suggested building a flyover.

In a representation submitted to the Executive Engineer of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Mysuru, the villagers, including local leaders, women, youth and traders, said they had earlier raised objections during a public grievance meeting held on January 13. At the meeting, residents and environmental activists maintained that a flyover was unnecessary at the location and instead suggested other measures to prevent accidents. Officials had then assured them that their concerns would be conveyed to the higher authorities.

However, the villagers alleged that the contractor had recently begun work abruptly, triggering protests. The work was later halted following objections from the local community and environmental groups.

The stretch has been identified as a ‘black spot’ by the NHAI, with seven fatal and 15 non-fatal accidents reported over the past three years up to 2024. While this has been cited as justification for the flyover, the villagers contended that such a structure alone would not prevent accidents.

They attributed the accidents primarily to overspeeding, negligent driving and drunken driving, and demanded immediate implementation of traffic management measures such as installation of traffic signals, speed breakers, proper signage, strict enforcement of traffic rules, and removal of nearby liquor outlets. They pointed out that similar measures are in place at several junctions along NH-275 between Manipal Hospital junction and T. Narasipura Road junction, but not at Devalapura Cross.