Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Apr 10: Crossing roads safely has become a life-threatening challenge across the city, particularly at major junctions along national highways and busy thoroughfares. The absence of basic pedestrian infrastructure combined with reckless driving has created a perfect storm of hazards for those on foot.
The problems stem from multiple failures in urban planning and traffic management. Most junctions lack zebra crossings, speed bumps, or proper signage, forcing pedestrians to take dangerous risks. Even where traffic signals exist, they often provide less than one minute for safe crossing. Vehicles routinely park on or block the few existing pedestrian crossings with no enforcement from authorities.
Several critical junctions illustrate these dangers. At Kottara Chowki, the complete absence of marked crossings leaves pedestrians to weave through chaotic traffic. The KPT Junction, while having traffic signals, fails to provide clear pedestrian crossing points or adequate crossing time. Balmatta presents perhaps the worst scenario, where haphazard bus parking and mid-road dividers force walkers to literally climb over barriers while dodging speeding vehicles.
The situation near Jyothi Circle and the Bunts Hostel area proves equally perilous, with hundreds of students and daily commuters risking their lives to cross roads. Here, unregulated bus parking and total absence of pedestrian infrastructure create constant near-misses.
Authorities continue to ignore these systemic issues despite repeated accidents. The lack of police presence at crossings, failure to maintain existing infrastructure, and absence of pedestrian-focused planning in road projects all contribute to what has become an urban safety crisis. With monsoon approaching, these already dangerous conditions threaten to become deadly as visibility decreases and roads become slippery.
Comment on this article
satish, kudla
Fri, Apr 11 2025One new place added to the list is the junction at ongoing to new DC office at Padil where we have two rickshaw stands on both sides of the road along with bus stops and cris cross intersection without any humps on any roads at any direction and another one Padil junction itself.
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Flavian, Mangalore/Kuwait
Fri, Apr 11 2025A smart city is a place where traditional networks and services are made more efficient with the use of digital solutions for the benefit of its inhabitants and business. Where as, Mlore smart city progressing with snails speed and inreasing practicL problems and i convince to people i many ways. Give the progress made so far since implementation of the proe t it might take few decades to achieve desired goal. Most of time make and brak and remake process!
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D.Shetty, Mangalore
Fri, Apr 11 2025City buses are like don't care for rules ..they can stop anywhere . near KPT junction buses plying from Udupi to Mangalore block the free left exit towards airport road while traffic police just watch other vehicle honking to clear way. No one follow lane system or know about GIVE WAY ..and all are in a hurry even though they wait for hours in block ... Emission test is joke and checking only for two wheeler and four-wheeler .. trucks , tippers and tankers including old KSRTC buses emitting black smoke as if they have contract with MCC for malaria eradication Training Center or driving school should be trained first . They don't know about road rules and the outcome is what we see in roads now . its like Driving school can arrange DL without presence of candidate
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Umesh Rao, Mangalore
Fri, Apr 11 2025Traffic lights were installed at the Bunts Hostel Circle about an year back, but till date they have not become operational. City buses and other big vehicles literally bulldozer their way through this intersection, while 2 wheeler riders indulge in reckless driving. Traffic police personnel if present can be seen standing to one side, literally scratching their back sides.
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Ronald, Karnataka
Fri, Apr 11 2025Cities should be built keeping pedestrians as first priority. Footpaths, Traffic signals, pedestrian crossing buttons, seating area, parks, proper bus stands all.of these are not there in Udupi and Mangalore in most locations. Look at East Asian countries like Vietnam. They are poor than us but their urban planning is top. People should demand proper urban planning.
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Dr Alexander, USA
Fri, Apr 11 2025It is not Infrastructure Issue. It is Indian citizen's Mind set. Indians dont have time and patience. always try to rush and rush. This is the issue. It is every where same in india. People who are lucky, they come home safely,
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Shammi, Mangalore
Fri, Apr 11 2025It’s disheartening to see traffic police focusing only on checking vehicle documents instead of managing actual traffic violations or ensuring smooth flow. Meanwhile, every second day, "No Parking" boards are moved around like props, confusing everyone. And somehow, when money changes hands, even footpaths magically turn into parking zones. As if that wasn’t enough, the City Corporation shows zero interest in installing speed breakers in accident-prone areas. It's clear that public safety isn’t a priority—only revenue collection seems to be.
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Dylan, Mangalore
Thu, Apr 10 2025Mangalore is only a over grown village. We can make it a good city to live in, but corruption is the great enemy.
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