Potholes and craters have appeared on most of the prominent roads in south Mangaluru, which were not concreted, once the monsoon started.
Consequently, vehicle users as well as pedestrians have great difficulty in negotiating these stretches.
Pedestrians in this coastal city, notoriously known for the lack of footpaths, are forced to walk on roads endangering their lives and potholes and craters on roads have only made their lives more miserable, says Preetha Shetty, a resident in Jeppu Market area.
The Jeppu Market road, she says, has been in a poor condition for nearly two years with the Mangaluru City Corporation giving little attention to its improvement. Despite filling in the potholes during the summer, the monsoon washes it away as the road lacks proper shoulder-drains, Ms. Shetty said.
Sharath, a resident of Monkey Stand, wondered why the MCC should stop repairing a road just because it has proposed to concrete the stretch. He cited the example of about 600m of asphalt road between Yemmekere junction and Mangaladevi Temple on Mangaladevi road and added that the road had constantly been in a poor condition.
Even portions of asphalted portions of arterial roads, catering to heavy movement of vehicles, including Fr. Mueller’s road and Kankanady Bypass road, Kankanady Old road and others, have been in a state of neglect.
On the other hand, almost all roads in Bunder area, including the Bunder road and Bibi Alabi road, have been in a state of neglect for many years.
Rammohan Pai Maroor, businessman and vice-president of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) wondered about the selective upgrade of roads.
While part of Bibi Alabi road was concreted, other part was left unattended as they come under different wards, Mr. Pai noted.
Pathetic state of South Mangaluru Roads
*Bunder Road
*Bibi Alabi Road
*Old Kent Road
*Railway Station Road
*Mangaladevi Road
*Bolara Road
*Jeppu Market Road
*Mahakalipadpu Road
*Kankanady Bypass Road
*Kudroli Road
