‘GSB Colony Rd’ is now ‘New Nursery Rd’? Angry Residents Convert ‘Road’ into a ‘Nursery’

‘GSB Colony Rd’ is now ‘New Nursery Rd’? Angry Residents Convert ‘Road’ into a ‘Nursery’

‘GSB [Goud Saraswat Brahmins] Colony Road’ very adjacent to Sujir CV Nayak Hall, down the road from Bunts Hostel Circle is now ‘New Nursery Road’? Angry Residents have Converted this dilapidated and uncompleted Road into a Nursery, comprising of Banana Saplings and flower plants- in order to send a message to the new MLA and their local ward Corporator, that making the area look Greener and Environmental friendly is much better than a messy and a hazardous Road? And this morning, 29 May a SUV/pick up truck got stuck in the muddy road and had to be towed away.

Mangaluru: In cities across the State, even in Mangaluru the gripe is the same: potholes and roads take forever to get fixed and many never are. While some guerrilla/Social activists have taken a more drastic approach, other have chosen a more subtle form of protest: planting Banana saplings/flowers in potholes or uncompleted roads. Some argue, including MCC officials and for that matter, the area corporators it is not only illegal but more dangerous, and go on to say there are proper channels for bringing such issues to the attention of the city. But it’s not stopping people from doing so, however, and the practice seems to be spreading. And that’s the only way that residents after feeling the brunt of all the inconveniences caused by such civic issues, take such measures to bring to the notice of the concerned authorities.

And one such action taken recently is by the residents of GSB Colony Road, {a road adjacent to Sujir CV Nayak Hall, which is down the road stretch from Bunts Hostel Circle} connecting Pinto’s Lane {a cross road from Kadri Kambla Road} on the other end, where they all joined together and planted Banana saplings and other flowering plants- in order to send a message to the new MLA and their local ward Corporator, that making the area look Greener and Environmental friendly is much better than having a messy and a hazardous Road?

It is learnt that the road work on this stretch of the road started during the first week of March 2018, and its been almost three months that the road has been left unattended prior to the announcement of elections. And for the last few weeks, especially after the City witnessed a few heavy rains, the condition of this road has been from bad to worse- which has put the residents and other citizens taking that road in hardship and inconveniences. Unable to bear the brunt of all the hassles and hardships created by the pathetic condition of the road, and also that none of the MCC officials nor the area corporator Ashok have taken any action, the residents started planting banana saplings and other plants on the road- in order to wake up all these authorities. I still remember this road, when I used to visit my uncle and aunt, the Monteiro’s who lived on this road- and during then it was a nice gravel road, unlike what we see now? Much development has been done along this road with new houses, apartments since then, except that a dilapidated road exists now?

Mercy D’souza, a resident on that stretch of the dilapidated road, who also runs a Spa and Salon business on that road, speaking to Team Mangalorean said, ” I had taken up this civic issue with the concerned authorities quite along ago, but never got any proper reply or any action taken-instead received only reasons, one being the elections coming in between. Are elections more important than the safety of the residents or what? Due to the pathetic conditions of the road my clients are very reluctant to come to my salon, and I have even lost some of my regular patrons. I pay all the required taxes, but will the MCC officials refund the loss that I have incurred due to slow business as the result of this dilapidated road.”

“Along with few other residents here, on 13 April 2018, we even had submitted a letter to MCC commissioner Mohammed Nazeer, with a copy to MLA J R Lobo and Area Corporator Ashok, requesting them to complete the pending work, which is posing danger to motorists and pedestrians. But unfortunately, there has been no response from any one of them. If you look at the present condition of this road it is scary and hazardous, as huge pits are filled with water, and someone may fall into them and die. Why are the officials delaying and putting us in hardship due to this road? Thank You Mangalorean.com for highlighting this civic issue” added Mercy. And while talking about vehicles getting stuck in this muddy road, this morning, 29 May a SUV/Pick Up truck got stuck in the road and had to be towed away.{See pics}

R M Kamath also speaking this morning said, “I have been residing in this area since decades, but never seen such a pathetic and dangerous road like this before. The contractors and workers at the helm of this road work have made a miserable situation for all of us. Being a senior, like many of us in this area, we have to take a alternate route to do our errands. I don’t walk to take any risk by taking this muddy and shrinking road, and land into trouble or on a hospital bed. During election time, candidates like J R Lobo and Vedavyas Kamath gave us all sorts of promises, but look at the situation we are facing now. Hope someone will come to our rescue, and I thank you media people for highlighting this issue.”

Yet another resident Cecilia Pinto said, ” Now that the rains have started this stretch of the road has become more pathetic and slushy, making it hard to walk. School going children are also facing problems taking this road. Vehicles many a times get stuck in this muddy road. Other day while my sick husband was being taken by an ambulance for treatment, the ambulance got stuck in the muddy road. With no other option, we had to put him on a stretcher and then transport him to the hospital in another vehicle. Also that my husband needs frequent visits to the hospital and requires transportation, but no auto-rickshaw drivers are willing to come to our house due to this bad road. Is this how our officials are concerned about their citizens, especially seniors like us. Now the rains will make our life to walk on this road more treacherous”. On the lighter side of vein, Cecilia said, “Isn’t nice to have banana plants which can produce some fruits, when the market prices of fruits are sky-rocketing.

Two-wheeler rider, Raghu who has to take this pathetic road daily to reach his workplace said, ” I have been riding on this road with much caution, since there are three huge pits along the road, now filled with water- and if I lose my balance I will land into it. It’s sad that none of our MCC officials nor our corporator is bothered about the condition of this road, which is putting peoples and motorists lives in danger. I only hope due to this protest by the residents in a unique way, and also through the media we can see a change soon”.

Caroline D’Souza, a resident of the area since decades said, ” I am extremely worried as to how I am suppose to bring my mother who is hospitalized now, but will be discharged in couple of days. Few days ago my car got stuck in this muddy road, and the Good Samaritans helped me in getting it out. These days I park my car on the main road side {even though there is hardly any parking space which creates more problems}, and then walk a distance to my home- but for how long have to sacrifice due to the negligence of out City administrators, including our corporator. – It’s sad to see that vehicles get stuck in this muddy road. Being prompt and regular taxpaying citizens of this City for decades, aren’t we suppose to get better facilities, including proper and safe roads?”

Okay, well said by few of these residents whom Team Mangalorean met, and for that matter, we all have to keep our fingers crossed and see what action would our beloved newly elected MLA, our MCC Officials and Area Corporator take after this issue has been highlighted through a “Banana” protest by the residents, and by the media, including Mangalorean.com. And one resident came rushing to Yours Truly and said, “Our corporator was fuming because we had this protest. He insisted we should have approached him first. He was really upset and left with anger”- and I replied, “That’s his nature always. He wakes up only when such protests and issues are highlighted in the media. We too had issues with him in our area near Kadri Pumpwell, which is few blocks from here, and he rectified it. So no need to worry- have patience, he will take care of the situation- he is a Good Man with a Bad Temper?

Anyways, so at the moment, the GSB Colony Road is still in a pathetic and dilapidated condition until further action is taken by the concerned authorities. Until then it is Better to have a greener environment with Banana Trees and other plants, rather than a Kambala Gadde?” {Buffalo Race field}