Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (CLP)

Mangaluru, Dec 18: Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim on Thursday December 18 asked the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) officials to install speed breakers at 31 places across the city before January 15, 2015.

Addressing the district-level road safety committee meeting on Thursday at the DC's office here, he told the engineers of MCC, "The speed breakers get damaged now and then due to heavy rain, heat during the summer and due to application of sudden brakes. Damaged speed breakers have to be replaced immediately."

Prior to the DC's order, the MCC officials and Hanumanth Kamath of Nagarika Hitarakshana Vedike engaged in a war of words over the issue of speed breakers.

Kamath explained about the various places in the city where humps have not been installed, and about the poor quality of the existing humps. "The quality of the speed breakers needs to be improved, like in Bengaluru which has rubber speed breakers," he added.

He also pointed out that the work on laying footpaths near the Bishop's House, near Karnataka Bank and Ram Bhavan Complex in Kodialbail is pending from two years.

In reply, Mangalore City Corporation commissioner (incharge) Gokuldas Nayak said, "The work near Ram Bhavan Complex is slow due to lack of space to lay the footpath, as people are not ready to cooperate."

Dakshina Kannada district superintendent of police (SP), Dr Sharanappa during the discussion on rural road safety, said, "We have seen very few accidents after the gas tanker accident at Perne near Uppinangady, Whenever there were accidents, we responded immediately by rushing emergency services to the spot, saving lives and diverting the traffic.

An awareness campaign as part of crime prevention month is in full swing in schools, colleges and panchayats, Dr Sharanappa said. He also appealed owners and drivers to renew their licences and insurance policies, and follow traffic rules for their own safety and that of others.

Traffic Diversion Plan

The DC said that the Shiradi Ghat stretch of national highway 75 is likely to be closed for repair after December 25, but the exact date would be announced only later, as work on Mani-Mysuru stretch is still progressing at a slow pace due to the uncertain rains in the month of November.

When the Shiradi Ghat is closed, the vehicles will be diverted to alternative routes. Red buses and light motor vehicles will have to take Charmadi Ghat route, while heavy vehicles will commute by Mani-Mysuru route and oil tankers will be diverted to Bengaluru-Honnavara NH-17 route. This arrangement was discussed during recent meeting held in Bengaluru, convened by minister for public works H C Mahadevappa.

Members of the auto rickshaw association who were present at the meeting said that there are 6,000 auto rickshaws in the city but the auto rickshaw stands are insufficient to accomodate all of them. They urged the RTO to immediately increase the number of auto rickshaw stands in the city.

Several other issues including zebra crossings near schools, parking problems, skywalk, bus bay and installation of signboards at appropriate places and so were also discussed.

ACP (Traffic) Uday Nayak, and other MCC officials were present at the meeting.