Mangaluru: Why can’t an economically thriving city get its streets right? What is stopping the authorities from getting work done? What happened to the money that was sanctioned to fix the dilapidated streets of Bejai Ward No. 31? Is it pure laziness or is there an undercurrent of other not so obvious reasons? These are some of the questions which the residents of Bejai Ward No 31 have been asking, and it seems like none of the concerned officials of MCC are listening.
RTI activist Ajoy D’Silva, a resident of that area speaking to mangalorean.com had said, “Funds for Asphalt patchwork got sanctioned in ward no 31 comprising of Bejai New Road, Sankaigudda Road, Anegundi Road, Barebail-behind KSRTC depot, but patchwork has been done only on some parts of the roads and lanes. The sanctioned patchwork started on 20th April 2014 with just a stretch of Bejai New road/7th Cross Rd being fixed and leaving the other areas unattended. Regarding this situation, a complaint had been filed by me during the 1st week of May 2014 with Mangaluru City Corporation, but until now no action has been taken. Also, the workers while filling potholes have left behind tar, excess soil etc, which is a safety hazard for the pedestrians who walk on these streets every day”.
Is it a road or a dirt track? That is what the residents of the area must be asking themselves as their streets have been in its present pathetic condition for the last so many months/year. Road stretch mentioned on the above residential areas looks like a patchwork of potholes rather than a road. The sight may look even more forbidding during the rainy season when the potholes get filled with rainwater. The area surrounding it is thickly populated and the overflow and stench from the open drains alongside may pose a safety and health hazard to the residents, when the monsoons start very soon.
So why is MCC delaying in fixing these dilapidated roads even when the money has been sanctioned? Why is the Ward corporator remaining numb on this issue? Residents voted the officials/corporator to serve and solve their problems, but now they are neglecting us, why? Why is that road patchwork/new interlock only on certain areas of Ward no 31(like the portion of Bejai New Rd/7th cross Rd) has been done, and not other streets under that Ward? Is it because rich and influential people live in that area? -these and many other questions have been raised by the residents who are fuming against the corporator/MCC officials for the slow work and negligence.
Marcel S, a resident of Anegundi Rd said, ” It’s not fair that only the stretch of Bejai New Rd has been taken care quick with patchwork, and also it has been laid with interlock bricks. Why the discrimination against other residents of the Ward by our corporator and MCC. We voted them in power and now they are letting us down by not obliging our requests. I urge the residents to get united and raise their voices against the lazy folks at MCC who are not caring for their citizens”.
Sumathi, yet another resident said, ” Riding your scooter on these pot-holed and dilapidated streets is a hassle and dangerous. Will the MCC pay for the wear and tear of our two-wheelers while riding on these bad roads? Why are they delaying in patching up the bad spots, although funds have been sanctioned? Why only fix certain part of the streets under this Ward? “Everyone should be treated equally”, this is my message to our corporator Lancy and also the MCC officials. Please fix the dilapidated/pot-holed roads at the earliest, so that no inconveniences/safety problems are incurred by the commuters/pedestrians”.
Ajoy also said, “There were records showing that the government had sanctioned money to MCC for patch repair of the roads in this Ward. But we have not seen any change in the state of the road. We do not know where this money has been spent. This is a poor reflection on the way councillors elected from these wards have worked. The poor condition of the roads had been causing problems not only for motorists but also for pedestrians. If no action is taken by our corporator, whom we all elected with faith, hoping to get good service from him, and also the MCC, we would take other measures relentlessly till these dilapidated roads are fixed”.
Thank you for highlighting a neglected ward. Last year I had filed an RTI application asking when the Bejai Bhajana Mandir Road and its various lanes were last repaired, what does the rule say about the period between two successive repairs, what is the amount spent on repairs for the past few years etc. MCC wrote back exactly 30 days later, saying they do not have the figures, are still calculating and will provide the figures as soon as they are ready. When nothing was forthcoming even after two months, I appealed to the Commissioner and was told a hearing… Read more »
Thank you to activist Ajoy Dsilva, ace journo alfy of mangalorean.com and the website in whole for highlighting this issue for the benefit of the resident. Being one of the residents of this area, its indeed sad to note that neither our corporator nor the MCC officials are not bothered to look into the pathetic conditions of the roads in the Bejai Ward No 31.
I only hope at least this report will serve as an eyeopener to the concerned authorities to act soon and do the needful by patching up the bad spots on these roads. thank you.
THANKS MR. AJAY. BEING A RESIDENT OF ANEGUNDI AND YOUR CONCERN FOR THE BEJAI WARD NO. 31. I HOPE THIS ARTICLE WILL HELP A LOT TO TAKE NECESSARY ACTIONS SOON BY THE CONCERN AUTHORITIES.