150 Year Old Footpath Closed In Bantwal Leaving 50 Families Stranded

Residents of Ananthady village in Bantwal taluk are facing growing difficulties after a traditional public footpath that has reportedly been used for around 150 years was recently closed.

The affected route is located in Survey Number 137 and has long served residents of Nadumane, Sudekattimaru and Punjavu areas. For several families, the pathway has been part of their regular daily travel for generations.

The closure has now made even routine journeys more difficult. More than 50 families are reportedly dependent on the route, and residents say schoolchildren, elderly people and other members of the community are struggling to reach important places.

The pathway is used to access facilities including an anganwadi, milk dairy, post office and hospital. With the traditional route no longer available, residents have raised concerns about the difficulties caused to people who need to travel regularly for work, education and essential services.

Elderly residents are among those facing particular inconvenience. According to the villagers, some senior citizens depend on the post office for receiving pensions and accessing government related services. The closure has made these visits more difficult for them.

Parents are also concerned about children who use the pathway while travelling to school and the anganwadi. Residents say the route had provided a familiar and convenient connection between different parts of the village, making its sudden closure a major issue for the local community.

The decision to block the pathway has triggered anger among residents, who say the route has been used publicly for a very long period. They are now seeking intervention from the local administration to determine the status of the pathway and restore public access.

A group of affected villagers has submitted a representation to the Bantwal tahsildar, requesting immediate action. They have urged the authorities to inspect the location, address the obstruction and ensure that pedestrians can use the traditional route without difficulty.

Residents have stressed that the issue is not limited to convenience. The pathway connects families with essential services, and its closure has a direct impact on children, elderly people and others who rely on walking access.

The villagers have therefore appealed to the tahsildar to intervene in the interest of the public. They want the obstruction removed and the route opened for regular pedestrian movement.

The administration is now expected to examine the residents’ representation and the status of the land and pathway before deciding on further action. Until the matter is resolved, families in the affected areas say their everyday movement will continue to remain difficult.

For the residents of Ananthady, the demand is straightforward. They want the long used public pathway to be examined by the authorities and, if it is confirmed as a public access route, restored for the benefit of the community.