Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (RJP)
Mangaluru, Jun 14: Traffic block at Charmadi ghat is everyday scene now. Passengers of late have taken this issue as a natural thing.
Charmadi- Everyday woes
Traffic blocks on Charmadi ghat on Thursday, Friday and Saturday affected the passengers a lot. The most dangerous thing about the block at this ghat is- passengers cannot go anywhere from the place they are stranded. The fact that their vehicles can neither move forward or backward is understood because it is a traffic block. But they cannot even go walking to get some food or toilet facilities nearby. This is the worst situation one faces especially during rainy days.
It was reported that deputy commissioner had ordered Charmadi panchayat to provide basic facilities for the passengers. But the panchayat has not done anything in this regard so far. But the question is where to provide these facilities? Charmadi panchayat can provide facilities only inside its jurisdiction. What about in the ghat section? Passengers cannot just come to Charmadi panchayat limits to have food and avail toilet facilities.
The traffic block goes on. Nobody seems to care about it. Additional problem is the traffic diverted to this ghat because of the closure of Shiradi ghat.
Shiradi work beyond comprehension
One needs to be a genius to understand the Shiradi ghat problem. Pages of essays can be written on the ghat with the available information. But that information is of no use to anybody. It will not solve the road problem anyway.
It is now said that the Shiradi ghat will become roadworthy from July 20. The concerned people have forgotten all their promises as they made several promises in the past one year. They have given ‘Inauguration’ dates randomly from the calendar without seeing the ground realities on the ghat.
It is not that the work is not being done on Shiradi ghat. It is indeed being done. But a look at it makes us think that we are in the year 1950. One can see concretisation being done with the help of tent to stop the rain water falling on the road. Where are we?
Nobody knows which engineering college these engineers and planners went to? They simply do not know the power of monsoon in the region.
It should be remembered that even if the ghat opens on July 20, it is just for few days. Then they will have to close it again as tender process for another 13 kilometres is yet to be completed.
Bengaluru from Mangaluru will become farther with two ghats having problems all the time. Sufficient train service between the two cities is also a distant dream. The High Court order which came this week is a relief. But till all these things are sorted out, the passengers can reach Bengaluru easily only through internet.