Mangalore: Traffic Chaos - No Method in the Madness Here !
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MM/GA)
Pics: Ganesh S Perla
Report coordinated by Richie Lasrado
Mangalore, Jul 28: The city is growing rapidly nowadays. As an impact of the rapid growth, the traffic jams in the city have become very common. Practically every morning and evening, the passengers have to struggle hard to reach their destination.
All these are recent developments. Half a decade ago, Mangalore had no such traffic pressure. But recently traffic has become a burning issue. With no expansion in road stretch and length and with hundreds of new vehicles hitting the road every day, the pressure on the road network is enormous. The buck is easily passed on to the traffic police, who, for no fault of theirs, keep racking their brains as to how to solve the traffic problem. So far no progress has been achieved by them on any count.
Places where the schools are located have become biggest challenges to our police to manage the flow of vehicles. Rickshaws and cars which gather near the schools to transport the children have posed a great cause of worry for everyone. Milagres, Kankanady junction, Bendoor and Bunts Hostel are the spots that experience heavy traffic problems everyday.
The closure of road along the Light House Hill for two days for laying interlock also has contributed to the traffic blocks at the weekend. Even on the outskirts of the city, more prominently at the intersections of the national highways running through the city, traffic jams are too common a phenomenon these days. The jams, to some extent, may look temporary because of the developmental works. But the increasing traffic problems within the city have already signalled the need for long-term plans to work out a permanent solutio to the traffic woes. Otherwise there would be no difference between Mangalore and Bangalore as far as traffic is concerned.
District's superintendent of police Satish Kumar, who took charge recently, had assured to solve the traffic problems in the city. But, all his enthusiasm and genuine concern apart and given the limitations imposed by the hard-pressed infrastructure with little scope for horizontal development, his hands appear to be tied. No wonder then not much progress has been seen.
It is high time the district administration - which may find the absence of an elected body to be a blessing in disguise - along with the transport authorities and the police, put their heads together to clear this chaos and anarchy on the roads. Civic sense and traffic discipline should be enforced without fear or favour.
All said and done, the day may not be far when some stringent measures will have to be taken, with a firm political will, distant vision, and more than all, with an iron hand.