by Richard Lasrado
Pics by Violet Pereira

Mangalore: Most of the citizens complain about the traffic congestion, lack of parking space, difficulty for pedestrians in crossing the roads, absence of footpaths and the like. Not many seem to be giving a thought to what causes all this mess.

A opinion survey made amongst well-intentioned and public-spirited citizens shows a clear inclination for a change.

Congestion

At the root of all the problems seems to be the clustered presence of too many government offices in the heart of the city. The deputy commissioner's office, regional transport office (RTO), taluk panchayat, police commissioner's office, IGP's office, Nehru maidan and many other facilities are all crammed into a radius of less than a kilometre.

To make matters much worse, the regional transport office itself is visited, according to an official count, by over 500 vehicles. Most of them are from the heavy transport sector, solely for the ritual of so-called 'brake inspection' every day, leave alone those of visitors coming there for licences and permits.

(In passing, mention can be made of the pressure added by the haphazard and unimaginative real estate development in restricted places like Pandeshwar, Car Street, Old Kent Road, Balmatta, Arya Samaj Road, Kodialbail and other points.)

Where to move?

This has put extreme pressure on the network of roads around Hampankatta, State Bank bus terminus and all adjacent points. If a plan now mooted by Mangalore south MLA and deputy speaker of assembly Nandavar Yogish Bhat materializes, much of the congestion could be eased, for sure.

Possibly inspired by the Rajatadri complex housing the offices of the Udupi DC and other departments near the End Point in Manipal, a comprehensive, all-in-one DC office complex is being planned for Mangalore. When Bhat mooted the subject during a discussion with chief minister Sadananda Gowda about two months ago, the CM responded immediately and asked Bhat to identify the land for it.

Various sites were shortlisted. Now a vacant land measuring 9 acres at Bangrakulur, earmarked for a crickt stadium twelve years ago, has been finally identified. A modern cricket stadium would need at least 30 acres of land and in any case the stadium is not likely to come up there. Hence, instead, the DC office complex would come up at the site.

A Rs 30-crore plan has been prepared. Although the inspiration has been derived from Rajatadri, the proposed complex in Mangalore will have its own design and infrastructure. The presence of the DK zilla panchayat complex at Urwa Stores within a reach of about 2 kilometres would be an added advantage.

If all goes well, the new complex should be ready within eighteen months, says Bhat.

Pulse of the people

Citizens came up with interesting responses, comments and suggestions:

"If the RTO office and DC office are moved, about 75% congestion will be relieved," felt a bank official.

"The old building of the DC office is a heritage piece from the British times. It should be restored and preserved as a historical museum, since Mangalore has played a big role during the time of the Portugese, Tipu Sultan and the British rule," said a historian, a Ph D scholar.

"The University College should also be shifted from here and the building should be restored and preserved as a regional heritage centre and museum," another academic said.

"If the DC office moves from here, what will happen to our own Hyde Park - the Hamilton circle - where protests are held? I am told that in the new DC office complex in Manipal, a provision has been made to allow protests. If the complex comes up in Bangrakulur, protesters may have to gather there. That could mean lesser crowds," said a businessman from the State Bank vicinity.

But the comment that really took the cake came for a senior citizen, who has been leading a retired life after a long service in the Union government.

"With all the offices having moved out, what will be left within the city? It will be a big relief, I agree. The central bus terminus would move to Pumpwell. The movement of buses will be sparser within the city and the patients in the Wenlock and Lady Goschen hospitals could have better rest and more peace of mind. But the big question is, with so much of business and money at stake, will the business lobby and the real estate lobby ever allow the shifting of all the offices from here? They could move heaven and earth to scuttle such a plan."

Come to think of it, we never thought of that.