Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Feb 4: A large crowd, practically comprising an entire locality, gathered at Kulshekar here on Sunday February 4 to witness the 'guddali puja' or groundbreaking ceremony for the long-awaited Kulshekar-Kannagudde road by MLA J R Lobo and mayor Kavita Sanil.
Usually groundbreaking ceremonies for roads attract only a handful of locals, but this was different, with scores of people flocking to the programme venue to watch their long-pending demand taking the first step towards fulfilment.
Addressing the gathering, J R Lobo said, "For the past 40 years, around two thousand people living in Kulshekar-Kannagudde area have been facing difficulties without a proper road. They are fed up of giving memorandums to officials regarding this. When I was elected, they collectively came to me requesting for a road. I went through their memorandum and planned to implement this project.
"Two years ago, we succeeded in getting a fund of Rs 85 lac from the state government, but the railway department objected to the road project. I then met many railway officials, attended their meetings and tried to convince them. I even wrote letters to the railway chairman about this. Finally, they asked an amount of Rs 1.35 crore as premier affairs. Mangaluru City Corporation agreed to give this amount and once the amount was deposited, the railway department gave permission for the new road," he explained.
"Now this road connects Kulshekar to Kannagudde. From Kannagudde to Kannur we are planning to construct another road at a cost of Rs 10 crore. This road will give people easy access to Moodbidri and Bengaluru roads without having to enter the city. I have been able to fulfil what I had promised the people of this area, so it is a joyful moment for me too along with the locals," Lobo said.
Mayor Kavita Sanil said, "We thank J R Lobo for his tremendous, visionary development work. He has made the 40-year dream of the people of Kulshekar and Kannagudde area come true. No one had succeeded in implementing this project so far because of many hurdles and railway rules. But our MLA has acted wisely and within four years solved the issue of forty years. By bringing mega projects like Smart City and many development works he has earned a special place in the hearts of the people of Mangaluru. Today everyone is talking of J R Lobo as the architetect of the modern face of the city."
Local corporator Bhaskar said, "We the residents of Kannagudde area are grateful to J R Lobo. From the past several years we are facing problems due to lack of a proper road. In rainy season the people of this area, especially elders, women and children face a lot of problems. All the representatives who had earlier won from this constituency turned deaf ears to our pleas. But when J R Lobo got elected as MLA, we had hopes that this road would be rebuilt. Within two years he succeeded in getting the funds from the state government and NOC from the railways. There is no doubt that if he wins again in the upcoming elections Mangaluru will become a world-class city."
Former mayor Shashidhar Hegde, corporators Naveen D'Souza, B Prakash, Sabitha Misquith, Keshava Maroli, MCC commissioner Mohammad Nazeer, Kallige Tharanatha Shetty, Prabhakar Shreyan, Abid Kannur and others were present.
Hundreds of residents from Kulshekar, Kannagudde, Kannur and Saripalla were present and they thanked J R lobo by honouring him with garlands.
The new road will be 1 km long streching from Kulshekar to Kannagudde. The road connects the areas of Umikana ground, Surya Nagar, Nooji, Saripalla, Pulire, Kalai, Frad Saibh Colony, Karphimar and Dekkadi. Once the project is complete, it will be extended up to 4 km to Kannur at a cost of Rs 10 crore. Before extending the road, an underpass may be required, funds for which may be sanctioned soon.