Deekshith D V
Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Jul 1: Despite assurances by union minister D V Sadananda Gowda that the Padil-Bajal railway underbridge would be ready by June 30, the work on the underbridge is far from over, and is in fact, is in a shambles. The delay has caused much inconvenience to locals, and now with water-logging, it has also left them worried.
Sadananda Gowda had assured that the work would be over by June end during inspection of the spot on May 9, many months after he laid the foundation stone for the underbridge.
The underbridge has now turned into a mini 'swimming pool' where stagnant water has collected due to rains, and this is likely to become a breeding center for mosquitoes. With the rainy season settling in, this may pose a serious threat to health.
Mocking the administration, locals have put up a banner adjacent to the Padil-Bajal underbridge proclaiming it a 'Mosquito Breeding Center and Swimming Pool'.
Speaking to daijiworld, Gayatri, a resident of Vijayanagara, said, "Stagnant water beneath the underbridge may lead to mosquitoes breeding which will result in the spread of communicable diseases. Several people, including children, pass by this way. This delay in work has affected connectivity to the main road."
Ganesh, a retired police officer, also complained about the inconvenience faced by the people of Bajal, Jalligude, Veeranagar and Faisalnagar. "As proper alternate roads have not been made available, the people have to take lengthy detours. This is an alarming situation if someone has to reach the hospital urgently," he said, adding that this project might take one more year before all the work is completed.
Abhishek Shetty, a local, said, "People of the local area are fed up of this inordinate delay in the work." Rehman, another local, said that school children and daily wage labourers were the worst affected due to this mismanagement of the issue.
A few auto drivers also complained that sometimes private buses cancel their trips and this inconveniences school children and the elderly.
Speaking to daijiworld, Palakkad division DRM Anand Prakash blamed Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) for the delay in the work. "The MCC did not submit the modified designs for the approach road though they were contacted repeatedly. It is the responsibility of the MCC to pump out the stagnant water and maintain hygiene."
He also said that the contractors cannot continue the work until the utilities are shifted from either side by the MCC.
MCC deputy commissioner (DC) Gokuldas Nayak was unavailable for comment despite several tries.