Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Feb 16: "The menace of street vendors is too much near the Central Market in the city. Citizens are not able to walk inside the market. They need to be vacated immediately," urged a shop owner on behalf of business fraternity of Central Market in the city.

A shop owner of Central Market raised his grievance in the police phone-in programme that was held at the office of the police commissioner on Friday, February 15.

The shop owner said, "The street vendors are now doing business by spreading the vegetables and fruits on the ground in huge heaps in addition to the hawkers, who sell various items on movable trolleys. It is impossible for the people to walk around the place and enter the market. It is causing chaos in traffic movement also. Inside the market, the shop owners do not have business. We are in a situation, where we are forced to commit suicide."

DCP Uma Prashanth, who responded to the caller said, "We have conducted several operations against the street vendors. We will bring the same to the notice of the MCC once again."

A caller appraised that cables are strewn on footpath near Bunts Hostel, PVS Junction and Balmatta. There is a grave danger that the pedestrian will get entangled by these cables and fall. The DCP replied that this will be brought to the notice of the concerned authority.

A concerned citizen said that the wine shops near KSRTC bus stand are opening at 6 am in the morning. In addition, certain sleeper coach buses park whole day by the side of the road at Bejai. The caller urged to take corrective action. DCP said that action will be taken on this issue.

One more caller complained that the buses that are plying from Sullia and Dharmasthala to the city are displaying the board as 'State Bank', which is causing confusion the passengers. He asked that Mangaluru needs to be mentioned on the board. The DCP replied that this will be brought to the notice of the KSRTC officials.

Other issues raised by the citizens in the programme:

*Dangerous board near Padil needs to be removed

*Vehicles are moving at a fast pace at Nandigudda road. Humps need to be installed.

*At Balmatta, mud is poured on private property, which is causing inconvenience

*At Ashoknagar Road Romeos are causing nuisance in public

*Street vendors are causing inconvenience to public from Krishnapura to Ganeshpura

*City bus bearing route number 30 does not ply between 11 am to 3 pm

*Vehicles are plying at high speed on the road that leads to railway station from opposite of Town Hall

*Pedestrians are facing issues because of uneven footpath level at Suratkal

*Two police personnel deputed at Mahakalipadpu railway gate to control traffic near the railway gate are not doing duty every day

One minute silence was observed at the end of the programme in honour of the soldiers who were martyred in the Pulwama terror attack. This was the 106th Police phone-in programme in which 29 calls were received.