Public safety 'ignored' after VVIP's visit

The authorities concerned, who did not leave any stone unturned for the safety of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to the city a month ago, seem to be nonchalant towards public safety.

The speed breakers (road humps) that were removed for the VVIP’s safety on the roads where he travelled, along with his convoy, during his two-day visit on January 2, are yet to be relaid. What makes it a matter of concern is a majority of the humps that were removed, were laid (earlier) at busy and accident spots with the sole intention of checking the speed of the vehicles.

Modi, on his arrival in a special flight at Mysore Airport in Mandakalli on Mysuru-Nanjangud Road (National Highway 212), passed through the same road to the ground opposite Maharaja’s College via JLB Road, Maharaja’s College Junction and Kautilya Circle (Crawford Hall junction). After attending the birth centenary celebrations of the late pontiff of Suttur mutt Shivaratri Rajendra Swami, he travelled to Hotel Lalitha Mahal Palace on the same route, connecting Mysore Race Course Road from Nanjangud road side. The humps were removed and the particular spots were levelled with asphalt to facilitate uniform movement of the convoy without any minimum pause, as is the measure taken during any VVIP movement, according to a police source.

Post Modi’s visit, when Deccan Herald made a reality check, it emerged that, in the absence of speed breakers, motorists had been moving recklessly on the particular stretches, that calls for immediate action on the part of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), that was entrusted with the task of removing the road humps ahead of Modi’s visit.

A mention must be made of such porous points on Mysuru-Nanjangud road that connects JLB Road at Ele Thota (betel leaves grove) Junction, Chamundipuram Circle and Thoogudeepa Circle (close to Hotel Lalitha Mahal Palace gate).

As the Lalitha Mahal road is prone to accidents, a new type of hump (road elevated pedestrian cross) with a box surface laid with inter-locking tiles were laid at the intersection of the road that leads to helipad. A similar hump was laid after passing through the gate of Lalitha Mahal. A little further, a conventional road hump (with asphalt) was laid at the intersection of the road that leads to the hotel (Lalitha Mahal).

When contacted, DCP (Crime and Traffic) N D Birje said, “The matter will be taken up on priority with the civic authority (MCC) entrusted with the task.”

Efforts made to contact Corporation Commissioner C G Betsurmath went in vain, as the officer did not receive the call.
DH News Service