Kodagu Residents Demand Urgent Repairs on Pothole-Ridden Hunsur-Gonikoppal-Virajpet Road

This essential stretch, linking Virajpet and Gonikoppal with Hunsur, Mysuru, and Bengaluru, serves as a critical route for local commuters, long-distance travellers and tourists.

Gonikoppal: The worsening condition of the Hunsur-Gonikoppal-Virajpet Road in South Kodagu has sparked strong criticism from residents, who are questioning the district authorities and Virajpet MLA on the lack of repairs.

This essential stretch, linking Virajpet and Gonikoppal with Hunsur, Mysuru, and Bengaluru, serves as a critical route for local commuters, long-distance travellers and tourists. However, its poor state has turned travel into a risky and uncomfortable experience.

Residents describe the road as riddled with potholes, particularly near Thithimathi in Virajpet taluk, where the stretch from Gonikoppal to Thithimathi is in an "unusable" state. While some vehicles, especially heavy trucks, have adapted by slowing down and swerving around the damaged sections, smaller vehicles face an increased risk of breakdowns, and two-wheeler riders are especially vulnerable.

One resident, Satish(name changed) from Gonikoppal, shared his frustration, saying, “Driving on this road feels like an obstacle course. The potholes are so large that sometimes it's hard to even spot the asphalt. Those of us who use this route daily have no choice but to risk damage to our vehicles.”

Another resident, Parvathy(name changed), a teacher who commutes between Gonikoppal and Thithimathi, highlighted safety concerns: “With school buses and daily commuters using this road, it’s hazardous, especially during the monsoon when the potholes fill with water. It’s about time the authorities took this issue seriously.”

The Thithimathi-Virajpet Road is approximately 26 km long and is a key route for transporting goods and providing connectivity to Kodagu’s coffee-producing regions and also border state Kerala. Despite its significance, locals allege that the maintenance has been grossly neglected.

The residents, weary of waiting, are now demanding an immediate response, fearing that if left unattended, the road could become impassable in the near future.

Kodagu's residents are urging both local authorities and elected representatives, especially MLA of Virajpet constituency A.S. Ponnanna to prioritise road safety, citing not only the daily inconvenience but the long-term economic impact on a district dependent on agriculture and tourism.

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