Novel protest at Ooty-Gudalur road
In a novel protest to draw the attention of the authorities to the state of the Udhagamandalam-Gudalur road in nearby Nilgiris district, people in and around the area have started distributing glucose powder to bus passengers to 'revitalise' them.Moreover, the bus drivers are draped with shawls after each trip to honour them for successfully 'driving through hell,' and taking the passengers safely to their destinations.A bus takes a minimum of three hours to cover the 55-km stretch (against the normal 90 minutes) through potholes, pits and also 'some road' and people require energy to carry out their day to day business after their 'long journey,' sources in the gudalur people's welfare association, said.To help them revitalise themselves, the residents thought of supplying glucose to bus passengers while they get in or get out of buses, they said."Actually the government should give bravery awards to such drivers," the sources observed.Going one step further, another batch is busy moving with torch-lights in the broad daylight in 'search' of the roads.Various representations to authorities on the condition of the roads, which become worse in rainy conditions, has fallen on deaf ears, the sources said.
