‘The Whole Thought of Renaming the Road is a FARCE’- Sumit Rao, a Alumnus of St Aloysius Institutions

‘The Whole Thought of Renaming the Road is a FARCE’- Sumith Rao, an Alumnus of St Aloysius Institutions, Mangaluru- and member of the BJP party and Former Chairman of the Industry Wing of BJP Dakshina Kannada

Mangaluru: The whole thought of renaming the road is a farce. I think St AloysiusInstitutions should get a copy of the judgement passed by the High Court. If what I have heard is correct, then the judgement says the road originating at Ambedkar Circle upto Catholic Club be renamed as ‘Mulky Sunder Ram Shetty Road’, which means to say that the ‘Shivaram Karanth Road’ should be renamed so. The road from Ambedkar circle to Catholic Club via Don Bosco’s Hall is the only road which comes to mind with the order unless people go on the wrong side. Then people will have to fight for the ‘Shivaram Karanth Road’, and not the other road.

The order never tells of the road starting from Catholic Club climbing up the Light House Hill through KMC, Tagore Park, St Aloysius College and ending down at Ambedkar Circle. (Ref: Govt/MCC has ‘Humbugged’ St Aloysius Institutions in Renaming SAC Road to MSR Shetty Road). As per what has been written they have named the wrong road even in their petition. So St Aloysius Institutions through their lawyer should go through the entire High Court request, and if the judgement is given, the judgement copy should be obtained, before assuming anything.

Following is the letter I wrote to the MCC Mayor:

“I am a member of the BJP party and was also the chairman of the industry wing of BJP Dakshina Kannada. 23 September was a dark day for us. An institution which has taught more than five lakh children from Mangaluru for the last 140 years seems to be irrelevant and one man Shri Sundaram Shetty seems more important for us Mangaloreans in power, Dear Mayor Sir, You being the first citizen of this city should feel proud of what you are doing. Should a road be named after one individual ” Mulki Sunder Ram Shetty” Or Should the existing name “St Aloysius College Road’ which is etched on the walls of KMC (while climbing from Catholic Club to St Aloysius on the right side). Unveiled by the then President of India, be more important than what you unveiled two days ago (23 Sept)?”

“It was a dark day for us and for you, Sir. Finally, it was your choice. I would also like to inform you that this matter is in High Court and it is subjudice and you could be dragged by the college authorities to the Court. You should have been aware of all the facts before taking hasty decisions, Sir! And also should have thought, whatever you name it, it will finally be called ‘St Aloysius College Road’. The voice of the people is always greater than that of one man. Thanks, Sumit Rao, a concerned citizen. (Ref: Pick A Road Name of Your Choice? ‘SAC’ Road, ‘LHH Road’ or Now Renamed ‘MSR Shetty Road’!)

This renamed “Mulky Sunder Ram Shetty Road’ is pointing from Catholic Club Via LHH Hill Rd to Jyothi Circle

Okay, Do you Want a Road named after you? So, what’s in a name! Let’s at least take this opportunity wherein people want to name roads after their favourite person into a game-changer for the city. Actually, people adopt animals in a zoo. Same way, let’s ADOPT A ROAD….Anyone interested in naming a road could do so after their Father, Mother, Grandparent, Uncle, Hero or Freedom Fighter. But, then here comes a catch. Let the Mangaluru City Corporation come up with the estimate for maintaining the road for the next TEN years as the minimum bid amount and auction it to the highest bidder.

This Sign is pointing towards LHH Road till Catholic Club, which is a ONE WAY??
How can you have a Road Sign on that Road, with No Entry for Vehicles, except Pedestrians?

Press Meet by St Aloysius Institutions on Undemocratic Way of Road Renaming?

Cheap & Shameful! Dirty Road Politics in Times of the Pandemic Renaming SAC Rd to MSR Shetty Rd

The highest bidder should deposit 50% of the bid amount and maintain the road for the next 10 years. If he is unable to maintain the road or circle etc, the road goes back to the City Corporation with the earlier name of the road. That way, our cash strapped city corporation can save money on the upkeep of the road and the people who want a road named after their favourite person also get to fulfil their wish. Seems like, “Two Birds with One Stone”-which means to achieve two things by doing a single action. We can kill two birds with one stone by dropping off the mail when we go to the grocery store. Good for the City. Good for the Roads. Good for people who want to name Roads. A win-win situation for everyone. Are the Corporation BIGWIGS listening?

About Author -Sumit Rao

An alumnus of St Aloysius College, Mangaluru, Sumit Rao is a Part-time Activist, Freelance Writer, and a full-time Small Industrialist managing Olympus Refrigeration Inc, Mangaluru. He is also a member of the BJP party and Former Chairman of the Industry Wing of BJP Dakshina Kannada.

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