Parking woes plague Udupi, building violations make it worse

Sheeja Moodubelle
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Jul 31: Area wise, the temple city of Udupi is comparatively one of the smaller cities in Karnataka, but is vastly famous. It is similar to other smaller cities in most respects, especially in terms of congested roads with irregular, improper parking lots.

However, the public is sure about what they want for their comforts. They park their vehicles next to the shop they want to visit, even it is in the middle of the road. At the same time, they have little option left.

Udupi is developing financially and plenty of commercial complexes and huge flats are coming up every day, some of them without following any rules and regulations.

All the buildings constructed in the city limits need CMC’s permission, but in most case, by the time the building is ready, the final product would have varied from the original plan. Most of the basements of such buildings marked for parking are later converted into business establishments.

Road widening is happening in the city accordingly, in places like K M Marg, Kalsanka–Kadiyali road, Court Road, and Jodukatte, but it now seems like the roads are being broadened for parking rather than for the smooth flow of traffic or for pedestrians.

Many of the commercial complexes have their own parking lots but the space is reserved for their staff and not their customers. Then there are some other complexes with 'locked' parking lots, but why are they locked is anybody's guess.

Sadly, the district administration and the CMC, who should be looking into these problems, have done precious little to solve them. Sources revealed that instead, the CMC, over the last few years, has been giving permission to irregular buildings bowing to all sorts of pressure.

Former deputy commissioner of Udupi V Ponnuraj was very strict about road rules. He never hesitated to take action against people who don’t follow the rules. The people of Udupi had the same kind of expectations of current DC Dr M T Reju.

People of Udupi still remember Ponnuraj for many projects, one of which was the Bannaje–Kadiyali road, which has been broadened into a double road.

Ultimately, either the public or the CMC and the district administration should work together for a systematic parking system and roads should be used for movement of vehicles alone, with footpaths for pedestrians.