Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 22: City mayor Kavita Sanil instructed officials to detect encroachment of public utility spaces adjacent to the roads in front of commercial establishments by these entities to convert them into private parking spaces. She told them to immediately get these encroachments removed and impose heavy penalties for repeated violators.

She was speaking after presiding over a special meeting held at the city corporation auditorium on Friday July 21 to discuss ways and means to improve traffic movement in the city.

"Traffic police should remove 'no parking' sign boards put up in front of commercial buildings. The officials should decide and inform how much of the space in front of the building belongs to the shop owners," she said.

MLC Ivan D'Souza pointed out that vehicular traffic turns dense all of a sudden because of of the fact that closure time of the schools in the city is the same. He said that a meeting of school heads under the presidentship by district deputy commissioner would be convened soon to affect change in the closure timings.

City corporator Roopa Bangera said that a permanent solution needs to be found for traffic woes at PVS Circle, road opposite Manasa Towers near PVS, etc. She said that because of the difference o height of the concrete road near Sharbath Katte on Airport Road, two-wheeler riders often meet with accident there. She also pointed out that the Skywalk project at Hampankatte for which foundation stone was laid over a year back, has not taken off.

Roopa also said that auto rickshaw drivers who ride their vehicles very slowly when not having passengers, and driving at high speed when passengers are seated inside, are causing traffic snarls. She advised traffic police to pay attention to this problem.

Inspector of the city (north) police station Manjunath said that at present trucks loaded with fish which spill dirty water on the roads are being fined heavily. He said that because of the existence of long national highway stretch within north police station limit, the highways department is expected to act but it is not responsive enough to the problems. "We have created zebra crossings with public support, and constables are posted near the schools in the morning and evening for helping children cross the roads. A WhatsApp group has been created, and information conveyed to this group about traffic problems would be addressed immediately," he stated.

Western station inspector Mohan Kottary said that vehicular parking on car street has been streamlined by alternating between even and odd date parkings. He said that because of the fact that four to five thousand children take the road at a time in the evening between PVS and Ballalbagh, controlling their movement is creating problems. He also sought space for dumping unused vehicles in the city.

Deputy mayor Rajanessh, chief whip Shashidhar Hegde and city corporation commissioner Muhammed Nazeer were present.