The villagers of Kothakota mandal, under the aegis of CPI(M), staged a protest by planting saplings on the Narsipatnam–Bheemunipatnam main road on Wednesday to draw the attention of the officials to what they called ‘pitiable condition’ of the road.

Riddled with potholes, the road stretch is causing hardship to motorists and pedestrians alike, they said.

The incessant rains during the past few days have compounded the problem with vehicles getting stuck in the water. During the the YSRCP’s tenure, funds of ₹78 crore were granted, but only patch works were done, the residents alleged.

A 2-km stretch was laid after the NDA government came to power. But, the remaining stretch continues to be in bad shape. The stretches at Singavaram in Butchaiahpeta mandal, Medivada and Kothakota in Ravikamatham mandal and the Rolugunta mandal headquarters, are in bad shape. The road has become a nightmare for pregnant women, who are shifted to Narsipatnam Area Hospital in 108 ambulances regularly from four Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in the region, said the CPI(M) leaders.

They appealed to the government to take early action on the issue, adding that they would stage protest during the Zilla Parishad Governing Body meeting scheduled for July 9 if the isue was solved by then.