Mangaluru: Residents protest at Kottara Chowki–Malemar over road, traffic and safety issues

Mangaluru: Residents protest at Kottara Chowki–Malemar over road, traffic and safety issues

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb 10, 2026: Residents of Kottara Chowki, Malemar and the Maladi Court area in Mangaluru staged a sit-in protest demanding permanent solutions to long-pending issues related to roads, traffic, safety and underground drainage, which have plagued the area for several years.

The protest was organised under the leadership of the Janahita Rakshana Samiti, Nekkila Malemar–Kottara Chowki, with active participation from local residents. Addressing the gathering, protest leader Kumar Malemar said corrupt officials were responsible for forcing so many people to take to the streets. He remarked that just as corrupt officials are chased away in Kerala, people in Karnataka should also take a firm stand so that officials are compelled to wake up and act.

Residents said that despite repeatedly submitting representations over the past several years to the concerned authorities and departments, no permanent solution has been provided so far. They blamed the lack of coordination among various departments and the negligence of officials for the continued suffering, stating that this had made the protest inevitable.

The protesters put forward several demands, including the construction of a service road at Malemar Chowki, a service road between Malemar and Kuntikana, easing and streamlining the turn from Kottara Chowki towards Maladi Road to ensure smooth traffic flow, and installation of floodlights at the Kottara Chowki junction.

With vehicular traffic increasing day by day, the lack of proper road infrastructure, traffic regulation and safety measures has led to a rise in accidents, they said. The situation has forced the public to commute under constant fear for their lives, and they urged the concerned authorities to respond immediately and provide permanent solutions.

The protesters also demanded an immediate halt to illegal parking that obstructs traffic and called for stopping the discharge of sewage into rainwater drains without delay.