Farmers build 6-km road with their own funds after years of neglect

Davanagere: Frustrated by years of official inaction, farmers from Obannanahalli and Honnanayakanahalli villages in Davanagere taluk have come together to construct nearly six kilometres of rural road using their own money and machinery, ensuring better access to farmlands and nearby villages.

The roads connect Obannanahalli with Annapura, Ganganakatte and surrounding agricultural areas. Farmers said the routes had become almost unusable, with deep potholes causing frequent accidents and making transportation of agricultural produce extremely difficult.

More than 40 farmers pooled resources for the project, with each contributing around Rs25,000. They used their own tractors, purchased diesel at their own expense and hired JCB machines to transport and spread soil. Around 500 to 600 tractor loads of earth were brought in over three days to level and strengthen the roads.

Farmers said the deteriorated condition of the roads had resulted in numerous mishaps over the years, including vehicles overturning and arecanut loads spilling onto the road. During the monsoon, some stretches reportedly became so damaged that people struggled to pass through them safely.

According to villagers, repeated appeals to local authorities and elected representatives failed to produce results, forcing them to take matters into their own hands. The total cost of the initiative is estimated at Rs5 lakh to Rs6 lakh.

Farmer Rajanna said the road was essential for accessing farmlands and transporting crops. He alleged that despite several representations, no department had taken steps to improve the infrastructure. Another farmer, Ramesh, said villagers had also installed large drainage pipes to prevent waterlogging in low-lying stretches where runoff from nearly 150 acres would accumulate.

Mayakonda MLA K.S. Basavanthappa praised the farmers’ initiative and assured that further road development works, including gravel strengthening and metal laying, would be undertaken by the government to improve connectivity

in the area.