On & Off Work on Road from NH 48 (Mangaluru-Bengaluru) to Mangalore Junction Railway Station (Kankanady) is a Nightmare for Motorists/Commuters
Mangaluru: For a person like me who uses the road to Mangaluru Junction Railway Station from Mangaluru-Bengaluru NH, once or twice a month on my visits to Margao-Goa, I feel the terrible brunt of this dilapidated and messy road- and I bet everyone also feels the same as me, whosoever travels on this stretch of the road in order to catch their respective train or head back home after arriving at the station.
A Railway Official on condition of anonymity, admits that poor accessibility is the major stumbling block on the path of the development of the Station. “The two roads, leading to the station; one via Padil junction and another one taking deviation off Bangalore NH are narrow. Though a couple of private buses are plying through the Padil route, it doesn’t serve the purpose,” said he. For years traveling on the road from NH to the railway station was a hassle and very inconvenient as the road was too narrow, and many a time that if two cars come from either direction, there is no space to pass- and there had been a constant traffic jam. But that was the story of yesteryears.
But couple of years ago, former MLA J R Lobo after having talks with the owner of the property adjacent to the road,the Coelho family, whose property was acquiring major portion of the road, making it hard for vehicles with no space to pass, had agreed to sell portion of their property in order for road widening. And that was indeed good news for everyone. But the bad news now is that even after a major portion of the road has been cut using earth movers, but the work has been going on so slow, on an Off and On basis, which has made a nightmare for motorists and commuters, using this stretch of the road.
Every time the laborers work on this road, they leave a big mess behind, until they return after days, weeks or months. This road should have been completed long ago after the railways acquired the portion of the Coelho’s property. But the story is different, with the officials and the contractors taking their own time to finish this project-making it yet another unfinished project of our MP, just like the Kankanady flyover. Every time the Ministers, MP’s or MLA’s take part in an event pertaining to the railways, they assure of making the railway station as per International standards. Wow- International standards!
If you look at the present condition in and around of Mangaluru Junction Railway Station, it is not even at the local standard, forget about international standards. There are no street lights on both the roads, one from Padil side, and the other from NH- and because of there had been quite a few phone snatching incidents after late evening hours when dark; there is a pile of garbage welcoming the commuters/visitors; no outdoor toilet or drinking water facilities; etc- and how can we ever expect our railway station to reach that of international level. Probably in the next 100 years?
Now that the stretch of the road is closed since the work has started again, but for how long the work will last is a question mark. Because the on and off work has been a routine since months- and due to this the entire stretch of the road is a mess- and every time motorists or commuters take this road has put them into severe inconveniences and has been a nightmare. With the said road being closed now without any announcement, commuters who are rushing to catch their respective trains, have to travel further and come through the road leading from Padil- and if they reach in time to the station they are indeed lucky to board their respective trains, if not they will miss the train. Is this international standards that our netas are talking about?
Forget about talking and anticipating about International standards of Mangalore Junction Railway station to materialize, even the signboard which directs commuters to the station is lying on the ground at the entrance of the road from NH 48- and it has been like that for over a year, or maybe years? And talk about ‘English Vinglish’ even the word “PLEASANT” is spelled as “PLEASENT” on the signboard. (See Photo)- I wonder if the members of Rotary Club of Mangalore who donated this board have noticed it? So one would wonder why is it taking such a long time for this road to be completed even after getting the land for widening. And now with election code of conduct, the work may not carry on until elections are over if I am correct. So I guess until this “International Standard” of Road gets completed, you and I have to face all the hurdles/hassles/inconveniences/hardships/brunt this road has to offer. A suitable advice- START EARLY or YOU MAY MISS YOUR TRAIN?