Mangalore: Traffic Chaos—Mayor, Mayor, Quite Contrary !
by Melka Miyar
Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (CN)
Mangalore, Aug 25: Citizens of the city looked forward to a new era of reforms with the change in the party running the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC). After the BJP took charge, The MCC seemed geared up to reach some milestones. However, it now seems that the hurried decisions taken by the new administration, have created traffic chaos throughout the city.
The MCC has decided to concrete all roads in the heart of the city, simultaneously and began the work on August 10. Without doubt, the city roads are in a bad condition due to the recent heavy rains, and concreting is indeed the ultimate solution suggested by the engineers in the city. But for commuters who are already having a tough time navigating the potholed roads, it is an additional worry to take detours each day, as many other arterial roads have been closed down for concreting.
However, road blocks are now a common feature after the closure of the road from Balmata to Bendorewell, and a long queue of vehicles can be found at Bendore junction every day at peak hours. The traffic police are doing their best to ensure smooth movement of traffic around the city, but are not seeing much success.
Traffic has been diverted through the railway station road as the road between Prabhath Talkies and Hampankatta signal has been closed. This has increased traffic density on the other roads. The inefficiency of the MCC authorities has come to light with this poorly calculated move of theirs.
The MCC had a plan to have four lanes on the roads. But the work has been started without acquiring the required land. The mayor and other senior corporators of the ruling party are trying to convince the shop owners to give up the land now. Interestingly, 75 per cent of the work is already finished here.
MCC mayor Ganesh Hosabettu assures that the work between Hampankatta signal and Prabhath Talkies will be finished before August 31 and a further 10 days may be needed for the curing. But the work between Prabhath and PVS will be started only after the land acquisition is done near Sujata Hotel. The mayor has no clear answer when this road will be concreted.
The vision of the city administration, for better roads, is really appreciable. At the same time authorities should try and minimize the inconvenience caused to citizens and realize that work begun with the right strategy can give better results.