Traffic issues still hang a fire in spite of pleas

Traffic issues still hang a fire in spite of pleas

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb 22, 2016: A series of meetings called by people’s representatives and officials to address the traffic problems in the city have failed to yield results. Mangaluru South MLA J.R. Lobo spear headed the meetings to discuss the issue, in mid  January’16. A few days ago DK DC Ibrahim and City Police Commissioner M. Chandra Sekhar called separate meetings with representatives of the NHAI -  National Highways Authority of India, Mangaluru City Corporation and private bus operators to discuss it.

AS yet no change on the ground for motorists is seen, pedestrians and bus commuters, who are forced to bear with bad roads, shrill horns and haphazard driving by bus operators.

One of the main issues raised at the meeting called by MLA Lobo was the problem faced by the students of Government College in Balmatta because of buses using shrill horns. He  explained how difficult it was to hold classes/meetings at the college. “When I cannot hold meetings, imagine the plight of students,” he said. MLA Lobo directed the city police to impose fine on errant bus drivers and reduce noise pollution.

Walter Menezes from Namma Mangaluru had spoken about traffic slowing down near the Karavali Circle in Kankanady because of halting of buses. Menezes said that the least police could do was to make buses park at the bus shelter opposite to a jewellery store. A motorist pointed out the problem caused because of slow movement of city buses between State Bank and Lady Goschen hospital.

Representatives of city bus operators association had been told about the problems caused by shrill horns at Balmatta, irregular parking of buses and other problems caused by city buses to motorists and bus commuters. “We cannot start imposing fine. We have told them to rectify problems in the next few days. If they do not change, we will start imposing fine,” he promised.

 Sekhar said that they had also informed the NHAI and the city corporation officials issues such as bumpy roads in Baikampady and uneven portion of the road at Rao and Rao Circle and Lalbagh Circle. “These are some small things that need to be rectified to prevent accidents,” he added.