A park in Mangalore for eves only

At a time when more and more women spend a considerable time outside their homes, safety becomes a pertinent and constant concern. Are education, employment, mobility and independence necessarily translating into respect and safety for all women in the city is a big question. Are women feel safe to spend their time or relax in parks? The answer is perhaps NO.

Normally, parks will be crowded with all sorts of people who come for relaxation. A girl or a woman may feel uncomfortable to sit and enjoy the scenic beauty of the park all alone. Whenever, a woman feels lonely or disturbed with certain untoward incidents at home or at work place, here is a place she can come and relax. This will be a place which will provide her psychological solace with soothing atmosphere. The Mangalore City Corporation has come out with an exclusive park for women at Hat Hill. The work on this unique park is nearing completion.

Speaking to City Herald, Mangalore City Corporation in-charge Commissioner Dr K N Vijayprakash said that the existing park at Hat Hill would be upgraded into a park exclusively for women. The first phase work, which includes laying of interlocks and installing benches, is complete.

The park, spread across 1.5 acre of land, is expected to see more development in future. In the second phase, various works, including construction of toilets and a radio house, would be undertaken at a cost of Rs 25 lakh.

The park at Hat Hill was selected because vehicular movement to the park is restricted and traffic density is also less, despite it being located in the heart of the city, he said.

Since Mangalore has no park exclusively for women, it will be a place where women can relax without being conscious about oglers. The park will also act as a stress buster for women who would like to spend some time alone. The concept is first of its kind in the entire state.

The commissioner said that few seating arrangements have been made in the park. The landscape for the park will be developed by the Horticulture department. There will be greenary and flower bearing plants. Walking path has also been laid in the park. The name for the park will be officially announced soon, he said.

More parks

The MCC had been giving special emphasis to provide lung space for the citizens by developing parks.

The parks to be developed in Phase II are: A park near Bondel government quarters; at Nethravathi Nagar; at Abbakka Nagar; Dr Shivram Karanth Nagar; and at Karnad Sadashiv Nagar. A sum of Rs 20 lakh has been earmarked for each park under Rs 100 crore released by the Chief Minister. Tenders have already been invited and work has to be entrusted, he added.

In addition, two more parks would be developed at Maruthinagar (Rs 18 lakh) and Krishnapura 7th Block (Rs 19 lakh), both in Surathkal. Besides, in an effort of its kind, an exclusive park for physically challenged is getting ready  in Mannagudda.