A public grievance meeting at Hosahundi village near Mysuru on Wednesday in connection with the proposed works to address road safety concerns at Devalapura Cross (Ring Road) on NH-275K.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement
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.
The residents said Hosahundi villagers have already lost fertile agricultural land on three occasions due to the Varuna canal project, airport development and the Ring Road. Many families have since turned to small businesses such as shops and hotels for their livelihood. “The proposed flyover will affect local businesses and affect our livelihoods,” the representative said, adding that it would also affect the aesthetic character of the village.
The villagers also flagged environmental concerns, opposing the proposed felling of 48 trees. In the context of rising temperatures in Mysuru, they argued that cutting mature trees would worsen climatic conditions. They noted that experts have indicated that transplanting neem trees has a low survival rate.
Demanding that the flyover plan near Hosahundi be scrapped, the villagers urged the authorities to prioritise such infrastructure in areas facing severe traffic congestion in Mysuru city where it is urgently required.
Published – March 25, 2026 08:13 pm IST
