Ontillu villagers struggle as Highway Authority blocks vital road !!!

Andhra Pradesh:- The ongoing construction of the Chennai-Bangalore Express Highway has severely disrupted the lives of residents in Ontillu, a Dalit village in Gudipala Mandal of Chittoor District. The only mud-road that the villagers used for accessing their crop fields, cattle grazing areas, and the village graveyard has been closed by the highway authority, causing significant hardship.

For the past two years, the new express highway, which runs from Bangalore to Chennai, Sriperumbudur via Mulbagal, Palamaneru, and Chittoor (Gudipala), has been under construction. According to the Ontillu villagers, this development has led to the complete blockade of the sole access route for them.

Despite numerous petitions and appeals to local authorities, including the Gudipala Tehsildar and the Chittoor District Collector, the villagers’ pleas have been ignored. The villagers relied on this road for daily activities such as grazing their cows and goats and accessing the cemetery for burials. The heavy traffic and construction vehicles on the highway have made crossing the road dangerous and difficult.

Last month, Village Head Ramadas, Ex ZPTC Member Mohana Sundari with other village elders and concerned residents, including Gopi, Murali, Dhanasekhar, Sulochana, Abhinash, Mary, and Lokanadan submitted a memorandum to the District Collector during a grievance program, requesting the construction of an underpass bridge. This would restore safe access to their crop fields and graveyard, alleviating the hardships faced by the Dalit community of Ontillu.

Despite their persistent efforts, the villagers are still waiting for a resolution. They hope that their pleas will be heard and addressed promptly to restore their access and alleviate their daily struggles.