Mangalore: Pumpwell road, bus stand issue - J R Lobo assures permanent solution

Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Dec 12: Responding to the long term issues faced by the residents of Ram Nagar, Vasant Nagar, Maroli, Jayanagar and surrounding places over the proposed bus stand and the poor condition of the roads, the Mangalore South MLA J R Lobo visited and inspected the areas along with other officials, and promised the locals to prepare a proper plan by January end and solve the issue permanently.

He also accepted a memorandum and listened to grieviences of the locals at the spot. A large number of locals gathered, as the issue been the major one faced by more than 1,700 houses of the locality.

The Issue

About 4 or 5 years back, the earlier administration had proposed a plan to construct an all-in-one bus stand at Pumpwell, beside the Pumpwell-Nantoor highway. The total land planned to be acquired for this project was 11.5 acres, of which nearly 7.5 acres have already been acquired.

There was a service road from the highway that connected nearly 1,700 houses of the Ram Nagar, Vasanth Nagar, Jayanagar, Maroli and other areas. Three years ago, when the Talapady to Suratkal road widening work was started, the service road connecting these localities was demolished by the highway authority and a temporary service road on the acquired land for the bus stand was constructed.

Now, it is nearly one year since the temporary road got completely damaged, but neither the highway authorities nor the administration has tried to solve this issue. The administration has been not able to solve this issue as the road passes through the acquired bus stand project land and hence it is out of its purview.

The problem has reached a deadlock, where the road can neither be repaired, nor the bus stand constructed due to various reasons. The highway authorities have been turning deaf ears to these problems, say the locals.

Even the auto rickshaw drivers refuse to come on these routes and even if they do come, they demand more as the roads are in a pathetic condition, the locals complain.

Just near acquired bus stand property, adjacent to the major open drain, a 10 ft land for road has been sanctioned, but it would be better if another 10 ft is given and a 20 ft road is constructed. The administration has again proposed acquiring an extra 11.5 acres, says Keshava Maroli, the local corporator.

Taking serious note of this matter, J R Lobo, along with MCC Commissioner Ajith Hegde Shanadi, joint commissioner, inspectors of various departments and other officials visted the spot, held discussions and promised the locals to find a permanent solution to the problems.
 
Corporators Keshava Maroli and Praveen Chandra Alva, leaders Shashiraj Ambut, Gangadhar Poojary, Tejaksha Suvarna, Balakrishna kottari, Narayana Vailar, Satish, Vasudeva, Naveen, T K Sudhir, Dennis D’Silva, Krithin Kumar, Prabhakar Shriyan and many others were present.