Bantwal: The traffic situation at the Jodumarga or Bantwal Cross Road – or B C Road as commonly known for decades – junction had been a long-standing issue for the motorists and the public alike.
The traffic police were the worst affected with the ever-increasing volume of traffic and with more and more new vehicles hitting the roads as each day passed by.
The new flyover, which took almost a decade to be completed, may not have served its intended purpose in full, in that the highway traffic only towards Mangaluru can use it and not the other way around.
Things have slightly improved with the opening of a new railway overbridge on the eastern side.
This necessitated creation of a new circle, in the place of an earlier junction, at the convergence of Beltangadi, Puttur, old Panemangaluru and Mangaluru roads. The circular movement of traffic, to some extent, appears to have eased the problem at this crucial spot.
Besides, the public, who were tired of seeing the old circle turn into a dumping yard for garbage, were happy about the new arrangement. In the meantime, the municipal council too has announced a plan to garnish the spot with attractive landscaping.
With this development, demands and clamour began being heard from different quarters for the naming of the new B C Road circle after persons of their respective preferences and predilections.
While a certain section wanted it to be named as Shri Tirumala Venkataramana as a mark of respect to the local reigning deity, there were voices in favour of Shri Narayana Guru, Rani Abbakka of Ullal, Tipu Sultan and also Panje Mangesh Rao, the Kannada author-poet who brought fame to his native village.
Earlier this week, the name of the just-deceased former president, A P J Abdul Kalam, was also heard quite loudly. But then an earlier resolution of the civic body to name the old circle after Swami Vivekananda had remained unimplemented.
Treating it as being timed out, the civic boy on July 30 resolved afresh to name it after the great social reformer from Kerala and the architect of Shri Gokarnanatheswara temple in Kudroli, Mangaluru.
Soon it will be known as ‘Jagadguru Brahmashri Narayana Guru circle’. It also resolved to send the resolution to the deputy commissioner for his endorsement.
But it should be borne in mind that, to begin with, the circle should have a decent look according to proper specifications before it is formally named after a great man like Shri Narayana Guru. Otherwise it would not do justice to a person of his stature and standing.
