City unites against bad condition of public roads

City unites against bad condition of public roads

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Mar 23, 2012: The protest against bad roads launched on March 23 Friday by Jaago Mangalore Association got a lot of support from the public. 

Protestors all over the city expressed their frustration over bad road maintenance, unorganized digging for pipelines, and total indifference to traffic problems on the part of the district administration by sounding their horns nonstop for about five minutes. 

 

 

The protest was supported by organizations such as the DK Bus Operators Association, the DK Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union, the Kanara Bus Owners’ Association, Quarry and Stone Crushers’ Association, Lions Club, Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jaycees, and Karnataka Rakshana Vedike. The members of the Malnad Youth Association assembled in large numbers near PVS Circle, voicing their frustration over bad roads in the city. 

Addressing the protest gathering at Navabharath Circle in Kodialbail, Ivan D’Souza, the secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, said that bad roads are indicative of bad administration. He further stated that only 60 percent of funds allotted for road repair and maintenance is used and the rest of the funds are pocketed by greedy contractors and officials. 

Around 20 auto drivers and drivers of other vehicles used their horns in the middle of the road at Navabharath Circle. However, several women two-wheeler riders and senior citizens were of the opinion that this part of the protest just added to the noise pollution. 

Praveenchandra Alva, the Congress leader, also participated in this protest, which included a protest march till PVS. Vehicle drivers in Bejai and Hampankatta also participated in the protest.
Meanwhile, a separate protest was organized at Yedapadavu Junction at Mijar near Bolechar Bridge at 5:00 p.m. The road was blocked for around half an hour from 6:00 p.m., after which traffic was allowed to move as usual. 

Delivering the protest address, Jaago Mangalore Coordinator Vijayanath Shetty expressed his gratitude to all individuals and organizations who supported the protest and also to the police department for cooperating and helping to maintain law and order. 

He also said that the huge public support has encouraged the association to organize similar protests twice or thrice a year to create awareness and to draw the attention of authorities to the bad condition of public roads. He also clarified that the protestors do not intend to create hatred toward the district administration, but only wants to make the administration more efficient and duty conscious. 

The line of vehicles at the venue of the protest was nearly 1km long, and music and bhajans formed part of the event.