Civic woes echo at city police phone-in programme

Mangaluru City Police Commissioner T R Suresh stated that he has told Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) to issue licences and no objection certificates to builders only if provision is made for a vehicle parking point on the premises of the buildings.

In response to a complaint by Micheal from Bejai during the weekly phone-in programme, the police commissioner said that enforcement of building regulations was MCC’s jurisdiction.

The caller complained that commercial complex builders in MCC limits, were blatantly violating rules. “No parking space is provided in buildings. Motorists are forced to park their vehicles on the road This causes inconvenience to pedestrians and results in traffic congestion. The town planning department of MCC is a total failure,” he added.

To a complaint by Laxman from Kaikamba, Suresh directed officials to conduct a special drive against two-wheelers parked on footpaths.

Jayaprakash Ekkur suggested the police department must announce prizes to those who provide information on traffic rule violators; as in Panaji.

“A private hospital near Dr B R Ambedkar Circle was not allowing patients’ vehicles to be parked in its premises. Vehicle owners are parking by the roadside,” pointed out another caller. Suresh assured that appropriate action would be taken against the hospital.

Sunil from Kulai pointed out that there was an acute shortage of police staff in Mangaluru North Traffic station limits. In reply, Suresh said that adequate staff will be deputed to the station soon.

Diwakar of Kavoor complained that there was traffic chaos on KSRTC - Bejai road due to illegal parking by the roadside. “Complaints to MCC have yielded no result,” he recalled.

Dr Padmanabha Bhat of Ekkar said that the Bajpe-Kateel road was an accident-prone area and road maintenance work undertaken by the PWD was progressing at a snail’s pace.