Karwar: Increasing cases of falling of boulders and injuring people on NH 66 from Sadashivagad Hill adjacent to Kali Bridge has left the road users concerned. 

The hill is situated between Karwar and Sadashivagad on NH 66 that connects Karwar with Goa and Mumbai. Every day, thousands of vehicles ply on the road.

One side of the hill is being demolished to widen the national highway into four lanes amid stiff resistance from local people since the hill was holding the ruins of a historical fort built by Sonde kings. In the early 80s, it was cut into two for the construction of NH 66. There is opposition to clear the hill which was once visited by King Shivaji and helped British rulers to counter attack the Portuguese from Goa. However, despite opposition, blasting of boulders on the hill is in continuation since the past six months.

On Thursday, one more biker was injured after a boulder rolled down. Luckily, the boulder fell in front of his bike. He fell off the bike and suffered minor injuries.

Following the incident, members of Karwar City Municipal Council met the deputy commissioner to direct his attention over the issue. 

Nitin Pikle, CMC member, said that the district administration should step in before any major accident takes place. Ganapthi Naik, president of Karwar CMC, urged the deputy commissioner to issue warning to the contractor to take up security measures. He requested the DC to make arrangement for a barge for transporting vehicles and people till the work is completed. 

If the construction company violates the guidelines while blasting the rocks, officials of the company should be booked under the Explosives Act, the members urged.

Subsequently, Deputy commissioner S S Nakul has assured the CMC members that he will hold a meeting with the officials of the road constructing company and find a solution for the problem.