Hubballi: It is becoming apparent that the inconvenience of the public arriving and departing at Unkal Cross will not end soon. Hubballi-Dharwad Bus Rapid Transit System (HD BRTS ), which had closed the road sloping down from Unkal end towards BVB end, is now expected to shut this road to all vehicles from BVB end to Unkal end.As BRTS officials had closed the BVB-Unkal road all of Sunday, citizens are gearing up to agitate. If both sides are closed, residents of Unkal Cross and its surroundings will be forced to either walk or take a detour of at least 5km.Muttu Patil, chairman, Jai Hanuman Education Society, Unkal, alleged that BRTS officials have ignored public concern and taken up work as per their whim. “They have already closed one side from Unkal end to BVB end. Everyone - senior citizens, students, women and commoners - are cooperating by walking up to Prerana College. As of now, traffic is allowed on the road from BVB end towards Unkal, and it is convenient for us to get down at our stop. If officials shut the road both ways, we will have to start an agitation by blocking the flyover , on which officials have diverted all vehicles, including city buses,” he added.Ramesh Mahadevappanavar, president, Siddhakalyan Nagar Yuvaka Mandali said, “Unkal cross has several residential areas and is even connected to commercial areas like Timber Yard and Unkal railway station. Now we hear that BRTS officials plan to shut the other side of the road, which will affect the public. We will hold a meeting of our Mandali members and plan an agitation with other organizations. For a start, we will submit a memorandum to officials. They should avoid inconveniencing the public. If they fail to find a solution, they will have to face a strong public protest,” he said.Savita Hangal, advocate and resident of Siddeshwar Park, said BRTS has turned into a curse for the residents of Unkal Cross and surrounding areas. “While closing traffic on one side, officials had said that drain construction work would be completed in 10 days. But the situation is the same even after one-and-a-half months. They have been allowing traffic on one side in the interest of the public, throughout the BRTS stretch. Only Unkal Cross is a jinxed area,” she noted.

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