With Kadri Park Closed, Walkers Using Highway is More DANGEROUS than Spread of Coronavirus

With Kadri Park Closed, Walkers Using Highway is More DANGEROUS than Spread of Coronavirus

Mangaluru: Imagine walking or jogging on a busy highway, when their favourite place of morning or evening exercise is closed by the district administration- and I am referring to Kadri Park, a place which is used by hundreds of citizens for their morning and evening walk or jog- and unfortunately now being shut as precaution measures pertaining to Coronavirus/Covid-19. And while many agree with the decision taken by the City as a precaution measure against Covid-19, many others are not happy with the district administration or MCC.
With no other option to do their daily exercises, many of these walkers and joggers have been making use of the highway adjacent to the Kadri Park, which is very hazardous, with non-stop traffic zooming by- which is more dangerous to one’s life than getting Coronavirus. A day after Karnataka reported the country’s first fatality due to the novel coronavirus, the state government ordered the shutting down of malls, cinema halls, pubs, schools and colleges, summer camps, exhibitions and all other mass gathering events across the state for one week, which Mangaluru adhered to. But now, even Kadri park which was used by many to spend their leisure time and also for exercise has been closed since Tuesday evening, which has left many disappointed.

A doctor by profession speaking to Team Mangalorean said, “I simply don’t understand why we all have to panic about Coronavirus, and on the other hand, why they have to close the park when no one is gathering in a mass. Either people walk alone or in pairs or in small groups, which does not even cater to spread of Covid-19. While at some restaurants we see a large gathering of people, and the businesses are still running, but the decision to close the Kadri Park is not right, which many will agree with me”.

Senior citizen Shanthi also expressing her frustration, since she has to walk on the street or highway due to park closure said, “This park has always been safe, with not much crowd compared to the mass gathering in malls, cinemas, jathras, etc. So why was the need to close the park and put us into this situation, where we have to walk on the highway or road and take chances of being hit by moving vehicles? I don’t think this is a good idea in closing the park in order to take precaution on Covid-19.”

Supporting the district administration/MCC move in closing the park, Charles said, “If the administration thinks it is a good idea to close the park in order to control the spread of Covid-19, I have no problem with that. Safety and prevention is the need of the hour, and we should cooperate until everything is alright. I can sacrifice my daily walk for a few days by staying at home, or do little walking in the yard. People should be careful and serious about this disease which has become pandemic, and not take it as a joke.

Not just these two citizens, many others have expressed their disappointment on the sudden closure of Kadri park, which was an ideal place for many to spend their morning and evening hours enjoying the nature- and for many others to do their exercises as part of their daily lifestyle. And in the meantime, police should ban these walkers/joggers using the Highway, which is too risky. Oh well, when authorities feel what they are doing is right, there is not much one can do. Period!