Adopt zero tolerance towards flex boards on road dividers: Mangaluru City Corporation DC

Mangaluru: Deputy Commissioner and Administrator of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), Darshan HV, has directed officials of the Mangaluru City Corporation to adopt zero tolerance towards the mounting of flex boards on road dividers and their illegal installation in public places.

He said mounting flexes and banners on road dividers is dangerous, as there is a possibility of flex boards falling on two-wheeler riders, which could lead to fatal accidents.

“If organisers mount flexes on their own property, we do not have any issue. However, the MCC will not allow flex boards to be installed on road dividers. Of late, I have noticed that even for government programmes, flexes were installed on dividers. There is a need for strict implementation of the rules,” he said.

Officials have been directed to remove all illegal flexes.

Responding to a query regarding irregular waste collection in some areas within MCC limits, Darshan HV said that in semi-urban areas, garbage is collected once every two days depending on the quantity of waste generated. Dry waste is collected in all 60 wards every Friday.

Automatic streetlight switching

The Deputy Commissioner said that after the project to replace conventional streetlights with energy-efficient LED lights within the Mangaluru City Corporation limits is completed, an integrated automatic switching system for streetlights will be introduced. The system will be controlled through the Command and Control Centre set up under the Smart City Project.

“With one switch, 30 to 40 streetlights can be turned on or off. Under the conventional system, linemen have to visit each street to switch lights on and off, which is time-consuming. Under the automatic system, all streetlights in the 60 wards can be operated within 15 to 20 minutes. Initially, the system will function in a half-manual and half-automatic mode,” he explained.

Under the project, 65,870 conventional streetlights across 60 wards will be replaced with LED lights. Though the contractor has sought an extension of time to complete the work, officials have been instructed to complete it by the end of June.

He added that new roads, new colonies, and extended areas that were not covered under the initial LED project will be managed by the City Corporation.