The activists alleged that the decision will paralyse entire business and livelihood of the people residing in the area. The district administration’s decision supporting the ban, in the name of security to the temple, is sheer unscientific. The area is a business hub of the city for over 500 years.
The ban was implanted as precautionary arrangements prior to Paryaya Mahotsava and later the decision was made permanent, they added. If parking and vehicular movement is permitted in the area behind the temple, then why not in the Car Street?
The present parking zones and other alternative routes chosen for plying of the vehicles pose similar threat to the security of the temple. It seems that some vested interests are behind the forceful ban, they added.
Former MP Vinay Kumar Sorake, former MLA Gopal Poojary, Veronica Kernelio, Members Janardhan Bhandarkar, Amrith Shenoy, Vijaya Raghava Rao, Sripad Hegde and others were present on the occasion.
Published 31 January 2010, 16:32 IST