Brand New Court Road Footpath Completed in 2018 has become like a Dump Path?

Brand New Court Road Footpath Completed in 2018 has become like a Dump Path?

Mangaluru: I remember taking this dilapidated road decades ago when I did my High school and College at St Aloysius Institution – but during that time there was an option, either we could take this road or climb the 100 pus steps which still exist, if you want to reach your destination- be it to the school/college or to the Court offices. But now with the construction of the brand new court road at a cost of nearly Rs 14 crore under Smart City project by Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL), under the leadership of then MLA J R Lobo and area award corporator A C Vinayaraj, the road and footpath is in shabby condition. And recently, if you go around the City, at a few prominent locations you’ll notice hoardings, boasting about the Court Road project- and with two smiling netas on it, namely the Congress MLA and Congress Corporator.

Even though such a broad Court Road was needed, but anyways, when there is someone else money, our politicians are quick in implementing such projects, so that they can pocket a part of the budget. Even after the road was completed, there were no street lights, until a few complaints from citizens and activists, new street lights were installed- of which bunch of them are not working. The whole road has been done in a shabby and unscientific way- where at many spots the drainage is incomplete and open- that chances are pedestrians could slip and fall into them. No doubt, this is yet another shabby and incomplete project of MSCL, adding yet another feather to their cap?

Even though, this court road which was surrounded by many trees and had many objections from St Aloysius Institution management and students, and also other citizens/environmentalists on cutting down these trees in order to make way for road widening-and had forced the government/MCC and other local representatives to take steps to protect these and more trees by using the latest technology. And this technology was named as “Soil Nailing Technology” which was approved by the State Government and Mangaluru City Corporation- and a consultant from Bengaluru was assigned to undertake this project. But anyways, after a snail pace work, the road has been completed, but unfortunately, TOTAL incomplete? (Ref: Shabby Work of the Contractor/Workers has Rs 14 Cr Court Road in Shambles?)

Earlier when the work was delayed, MCC Corporator of Court Ward, A C Vinayaraj who had said that the work delay was due to the problem between the consultant as well as the contractors. But once this road is completed it will be one of the best in the City, protecting the nature as well as geographical structure- and this hilly region is an aesthetic property of the City. There are plans to add e-toilets in the Court Ward, and since this Ward is urban in nature, commuters from various destinations should get the best way to attend a nature’s call, had said the Corporator. Anyways, well said by the Corporator then, but if you look at the present condition of the road, what the Corporator said was “Believe It or Not” kind of promise- and the photos in this report will speak the truth. (Ref: Commuters Want to ‘Know’, Why Rs 14 Cr Court Road Work So ‘Slow’?)

The entire stretch of the footpath is covered with filth/garbage/construction materials etc- and pedestrians are using the main stretch of the road for walking. On the days when Court hours are in progress, the entire stretch of the road is occupied for parking-how nice? So, if our MLA and Corporator feel proud of this Court Ward/Road project highlighting them through hoardings, then why are the footpath/drainage is such shabby condition, not usable by commuters. Total ignorance and Total Negligence, I guess?