Ganesh Prabhu/The Hindu
Udupi, Feb 25: The Car Street, where the Sri Krishna Math/Temple and Ashta Maths are located, is visited by a large number of devotees from across the country, besides the local people. But, in view of growing security concerns and the traffic congestion there, the authorities have been contemplating on making the Car Street a vehicle-free zone.
Deputy Commissioner P. Hemalatha told The Hindu that there was no immediate plan to make the Car Street into a vehicle-free zone. However, the authorities were trying to identify a suitable place for a vehicle parking slot. Ms. Hemalatha said: “After the November 26, 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai, security at the Car Street has become a priority. The security in the area has been beefed up and it has been decided to install cameras at Sri Krishna temple and various other points in the area.”
Dinakar Shetty, president of Udupi City Municipal Council, said there was no concrete plan on this issue. The move to make Car Street a vehicle-free zone has been opposed by the shopkeepers there. They have formed an association, “Nalku Veethi Nivasigala Vedike, to fight against the implementation of this proposal.
According to Anil Prabhakar Pai, president of the vedike, 120 shopkeepers have become its members.