Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Dec 12: The excavation of roads in Mangaluru seems to be a never-ending story, with projects like Gail Gas, the Jalasiri project, and cable works continuously underway. However, when these road excavation projects remain incomplete, they cause significant disruptions to daily life, transportation, and safety. Unfinished excavation work often leads to traffic congestion and an increased risk of accidents. Delays in such projects are typically attributed to poor project management, insufficient funding, or unexpected technical challenges. Addressing these unfinished roadworks and completing them in a timely and efficient manner is crucial to restoring order and ensuring the safety and convenience of all road users.

The roads excavated for various projects are often not restored to their original condition upon completion of the work. This issue is particularly evident in prime locations such as Bunts Hostel, near Court Road, and Bondel, where unfinished roadwork poses significant risks to vehicular movement. Additionally, mud accumulation on these roads during rainfall exacerbates the danger, making the surface slippery and hazardous, especially for two-wheelers.

On December 11, a tragic incident near Kavoor highlighted this issue. A man lost his life when his two-wheeler skidded on a muddy road, causing him to fall under the wheels of a truck. The road had been left in a hazardous condition due to excavation work. Shockingly, the cleanup of the mud was carried out only after the accident, with police present. Who is accountable for this tragic loss of life?

In several areas of Mangaluru, once a project begins, the roads are not properly restored, leading to disrupted traffic flow. Often, only temporary patchwork is done, or mud and stones are dumped on the road. These materials are washed away during the monsoon, leaving the roads in even worse condition.

For instance, on November 18, the new church at Bondel was inaugurated with interlocking tiles laid outside the gate. However, within a week, the entire interlock was excavated for project work and remained unrestored until December 10. As of December 11, workers were still seen dumping mud to cover the deep pit left by the excavation. In fact, neither side of the road near Bondel Church has been properly restored after the project excavation.

Why does the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) remain silent on taking action against contractors for such negligence? There is an urgent need for a dedicated operation, akin to the “Tiger Operation” by the MCC, to address this issue. Just as street vendors causing traffic congestion are held accountable, these unaddressed excavations also create traffic hazards and, in some cases, claim lives.