The Hindu

Mangalore Jun 28: The newly concreted road between Ambedkar Circle and Hampankatta signal, a distance of 800 metres, which was hurriedly opened for traffic, has now become a dangerous stretch for pedestrians and users of smaller vehicles.

The road, which was incomplete in terms of work on shouldering, drains and access to shopping areas, was opened for traffic on June 16, 2007. Though the entrance to the road from the Hampankatta side has been fully done up till the Milagres centre, work on the area up to Ambedkar Circle (formerly Jyothi Circle) is still pending.

A contractor said workers were engaged in work on so many pockets and they had to cross the road to fetch things from the other side. Since heavy vehicles rush past the work spot, the workers were afraid to continue the work.

Balmatta is also a shopping area, and shoppers find it difficult to move around, particularly in areas where the road shouldering has not been done. They are forced to walk on the road. The condition in front of Roopa Hotel and City Lights complex has become worse as there are wide-open areas on the shoulder of the road and one careless step could turn out to be dangerous. According to one of the contractors, the Mangalore City Corporation allowed the road to be opened for traffic on the last day of the term of the council since the outgoing Mayor Vijaya Arun wanted to inaugurate the road herself. The City Corporation officials say now that the road has been opened, they cannot close it again but could consider putting up speed breakers.