Report by Michael Rodrigues
Pics by Janardhan Kodavoor and DPK
Team Mangalorean Udupi

Udupi: The office of the Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat located at Raj Mahal Complex near Bus Stand, Malpe here, was inaugurated on Monday  August 6, 2012. Former president of Udupi City Municipality Somshekar Bhat inaugurated the MLA office by lighting the lamp. State Minister Kota Srinivasa Poojary presided over the function.

In his introductory speech Raghupathy Bhat said that the dream of the residents of Malpe has finally come true.  Announcing his availability in the office every Saturday after 3 PM, he said that his Full Time staffs will be available to accept any problems of the people they have. Town Municipality President is available on every Monday in the office to listen to any  problems relating to town Municipality , he said.

The Blue Print for the envisaged town being already chalked out, it would be implemented in several stages. Manipal Road has already been developed, Malpe Road work would also be taken up subsequently, he said.  The CM has agreed for availing 30 crores aid  for the development of the town, he said.

Hoping to install the statue of Madhwacharya in Malpe, due to some CRZ rules certain deterrents have arised,  after holding discussions with Duty commissioner , the Udupi Urban Development Authority  having identified place for parking in Malpe, only after that  work would be taken up for its implementation, he said. 3.5 crores have been called for tender for the construction of a bridge in Malpe-Padukere, the construction cost would hike up to 11. 5 crores due to the inflation, but the work would be taken up very soon, he said.

2 crore 20 lacs has been earmarked for the construction of jetty in Malpe for facilitating the tour of visitors to St. Mary's Island, and it would be set up outside TEBMA , he revealed.   This area would further be developed with expense of 2 crores in order to attract the tourists here, he said.

Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon, Udupi City Municipality president Kiran Kumar, Vice President Bharathi Chandrashekar, Udupi District BJP Chief Uday Kumar Shetty, Deputy commissioner of Udupi district Dr. M T Reju, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district Fish Sellers Federation PYashpal Suvarna, Malpe Fishermen Association  President Hiriyanna T Kidiyoor, Udupi City Municipality standing committee President Prabhakar Poojary, Senior BJP Leader Gujjadi Prabhakar Nayak, Udupi Urban Development Authority Former president Sudhakar Shetty, Udupi District Fresh Fish (Hasi Meenu) Sellers Association President Baby Salian, Udupi Taluk Panchayaht President Devdas Hebbar, Udupi Municipality Councilor Raghu Karkera, Panduranga Malpe, Indira Shekar, Vijay Kundar Suresh Shetty were present at the occasion.