Mangalore: Citizenry Hard-hit As Developing City Lacks Bus Stops, Footpath

Pics: Savitha B R
By Prakash Samaga

Mangalore, Apr 17: For sometime now, Mangalore's progress as a developing city has been symbolised by the way its roads are getting a new look, with concrete surfaces and new dividers. But the same development has paved the way for tough times for lower middle-class people. During the time of widening roads, footpath and bus stops were demolished. But while concreting and road-widening works were completed, the bus stops and footpath permanently disappeared.

The scene now is that passengers are made to wait for the buses on the road itself. For pedestrians things are even worse. The State Bank of India terminal is the main bus stand of the city. But when it comes to bus stop, it's nowhere in K S Rao Road, Nav Bharath Circle, Bunts Hostel, PVS Circle, Bendoorwell and Kankanady or in other places.

There is one bus stop near Lady Goschen Hospital area, but just for namesake. Passengers find it impossible to wait there. At the general session meeting of Mangalore City Corporation held on July 31, 2009, 219 places were earmarked for bus stopsd. But none materialised.

It becomes MCC’s duty to avail good bus stops for the citizens.

At the budget presented by MCC for the year 2011-2012 on Tuesday April 5, it was decided to take the help of transport department officers and bus owners to earmark main places wherein bus stops are to be built, with the financial help of MCC and sponsors. But ironically, in 2009-10 and 2010-11 budgets also the same proposals about bus stops were made. Changes were observed only in years. Perhaps the same reports on bus stop proposal are 'prepared' over and over, and tax and finance commission committee president reads out the same! Unfortunately, not even a single corporator has questioned this in MCC.

It is the middle class people who badly need buses and bus stops, but sadly they are ones who rarely raise questions and demands. Is it the reason for city not having bus stops in many places? It is also to be noted that bus stops that were there before the concreting of the roads never appeared again, and in a few places bus stops have been encroached by private hands.

It is so ironic that while we boast of Mangalore as a fast developing city, the authorities are neglecting those amenities that the masses require the most. How could we be 'developed' if our citizens do not even have a decent footpath? The roads seem to have been concreted with only the upper middle and rich classes in mind, but not the have-nots who still use their legs to go about their day. Apart from footpaths, a spacious, well-placed and well-sheltered bus stops are also need of the hour. It is time citizens take a 'stand' on this issue and demand their rights.