Report & Pics by Stanly Bantwal

Mangaluru, Sep 22: Is Bikarnakatte a national highway or a river during the monsoon? That is the question residents along one of Mangaluru’s busiest stretches are asking, as sewage and drain water allegedly spill onto the road, streetlights remain non-functional and basic road-safety measures are missing.

Residents of Bikarnakatte have alleged continued neglect by the National Highway authorities and Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), claiming that repeated complaints about drainage, street lighting, road signage, pedestrian safety and traffic management have failed to bring a lasting solution.

The Bikarnakatte stretch, connecting Nanthur with the city’s important routes, is a crucial link to Bantwal, Dharmasthala, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Moodbidri, Karkala and several other major destinations. The area comes under both the National Highway and Mangaluru City Corporation jurisdictions.

For residents living along the road, however, the importance of the route has done little to ease their daily problems.

At Jayashree Gate and its surrounding areas, residents say the absence of a proper underground drainage system has become a major issue. The area has several large apartment complexes, schools, colleges, temples, mosques and churches, yet residents claim that basic civic infrastructure remains inadequate.

Despite paying taxes to the city corporation, residents say they continue to struggle with overflowing drains, wastewater, poor lighting and unsafe road conditions.

Residents claim they have repeatedly brought the problems to the attention of government officials and political representatives. They also point out that despite Mangaluru being developed under the Smart City project, no permanent solution has emerged for the problems plaguing this stretch.

Sewage flowing onto highway

One of the most pressing complaints is the flow of dirty water onto the road from Jayashree Gate towards Bikarnakatte.

Residents allege that the drains are not properly maintained and that only temporary repairs are carried out after they send photographs and videos of sewage and wastewater flowing onto the road.

They say that whenever images and videos are forwarded to the authorities, some drainage work is undertaken, but the problem soon returns.

The situation becomes particularly severe during the rainy season.

Residents say that during heavy rains, the road becomes so inundated that it is difficult to tell whether it is a national highway or a river.

Adding to their misery is the stench from the wastewater. Residents and pedestrians are forced to walk through the area amid the foul smell, they allege.

Thousands cross, but no zebra crossing

Pedestrian safety is another major concern.

Residents point out that thousands of people cross the road every day near Bikarnakatte, the church, mosque and Jayashree Gate. Yet, they allege, proper zebra crossings are absent at these busy locations.

According to residents, repeated requests have been made to National Highway officials and the traffic police to install appropriate road signs and pedestrian-safety measures.

However, they claim that officials have cited various reasons, including the availability of machinery, rather than taking permanent measures to address the issue.

The speed of vehicles is another concern.

Residents say vehicles travelling from Padil and Nanthur frequently move at high speed along the stretch, resulting in several accidents.

They allege that the lack of proper road markings, warning signs and pedestrian-safety measures is adding to the risk.

Residents also claim that when accidents or traffic-related problems occur, attention is often directed towards the police department, while the alleged negligence of the National Highway authorities and civic agencies receives less attention.

Motorists left guessing at flyover

The absence of adequate directional signage has also become a headache for motorists, residents say.

At the Bikarnakatte flyover and on routes connecting Moodbidri, Bantwal, Mysuru and Bengaluru, residents allege that motorists are not given clear instructions about which direction to take.

At night, the problem becomes even more serious, they claim, with motorists unfamiliar with the area sometimes taking the wrong route.

Residents have also complained about the absence of adequate reflectors.

They allege that instead of proper reflective safety installations, only small stickers have been placed at some locations, making them difficult to see at night.

Streetlight poles, but no lights

At the road divider opposite the mosque near Jayashree Gate, residents say there are no functioning streetlights.

They point out that lighting poles were installed around four months ago, before the flyover, but the lights have still not been installed.

Residents have questioned how much longer they will have to wait for the lights to become operational.

Closed U-turn still being used

Another safety concern has emerged near the Infant Jesus shrine at Bikarnakatte, where a U-turn has reportedly been closed.

Residents allege that motorists continue to use the spot to make turns as they did earlier.

The closed section is particularly difficult to identify at night, they say, questioning why adequate reflectors and proper National Highway markings have not been installed to make the closure clearly visible.

Appeal for action

Residents have now appealed to the Mangaluru City Corporation, the National Highways Authority and elected representatives of the area to take immediate action.

They have sought a permanent solution to the drainage and street-lighting problems from Nanthur to the Bikarnakatte flyover, proper road-sign boards on both sides of the highway, zebra crossings at locations with heavy pedestrian movement and urgent attention to road safety.

Residents have also urged the authorities to address the problems jointly instead of passing responsibility from one department to another.

Through the media, they have once again appealed to the civic authorities, National Highway officials and elected representatives to wake up to the situation and take concrete measures to resolve the long-standing problems.

Their message is clear: Bikarnakatte is a vital gateway connecting Mangaluru with several major towns and cities, and residents say the stretch deserves infrastructure and road-safety measures matching its importance.