Udupi: Udupi City Municipal Council is thinking about pay-parking for the vehicles due to heavy traffic problems within the City limits, said Udupi City Municipality Council President Sumithra R. Nayak.
Speaking on Wednesday July 20 after the hourlong discussions on traffic problems in the Udupi City level on suggestions and solutions with City Traffic Police Station Sub-inspector Abdul Khader, Sumithra R. Nayak said that day by day the traffic problems are increasing. There was a system of pay parking in the Udupi City limits. But due to various circumstances, the pay parking system was stopped. However, Udupi CMC is thinking about bringing the pay parking system to avoid parking problems.
Traffic SI Abdul Khader said that there has been heavy traffic, especially at KM Marg and Karavali to Manipal Road rather than other places due to the unavailability of parking in front of the building at Maithri Complex, City/Service Bus Stations and other buildings on main roads. The daily travellers to Mangalore and other places are parking their vehicles at Jatka Stand Parking place near the service bus stand and these people only arrive in the evening since morning. Due to the shortage of parking places in the City, people park their vehicles in odd places. Hence, a pay parking system with one supervisor, could solve parking problems, said Abdul Khader.
In response to this, local MLA Raghupathy Bhat advised the council to bring the pay parking system better and solve the problem and further asked the Municipal Commissioner Uday Shetty to identify the place to set up pay parking areas within Udupi City limits.
Traffic SI Abdul Khader said that under the guidance of MLA, 6-7 signal lights points are identified and signal lights points will be installed.
SI Abdul Khader said that the Zebra Cross has been a complicated one and need to find a solution. Due to trading on road footpaths by the street vendors, the pedestrians are troubled on the way. Some of the advertising boards in the middle of the KM Marg are in danger. SI asked to remove such advertising boards.
In reply to members on Santhekatte Junction traffic problems, Khader said that if vehicles are parked on service roads, and since on both the way the vehicles move, the vehicle’s conjunction takes place. Hence, parking on service roads is not allowed and traffic sign boards established by the Traffic Department. Khader advised civic officials to establish bus stands on the service road near the municipal toilet area for Kundapur side vehicles and near the old Jonathan Café side for Udupi bound vehicles. Santhekatte junction has been identified as a Black Spot due to improper planning by the NHAI, he said.
Prabhakar Poojary, Councillor said that the favoured finish roads are washed out within one year. In some places, within one month, the roads are destroyed due to poor work. Hence, there should be a need to take action on such road contractors.
Ramesh Kanchan Opposition Leader said that some contractors are threatening civic officials by saying the MLA’s name and so the civic officials are not speaking.
In reply to this, Raghupathy Bhat said that those who threaten saying my name inform me. I never support such contractors, he said.
MLA Raghupathy Bhat was angry with KUIDFC officials over the installation of faulty water metres. In reply to a complaint from Councillor Sundar Kalmadi that instead of Rs. 300 water bill, it is being charged Rs. 1300 for the people. The KUIDFC officials said that the increase in water bills arising due to air in the water pipes. Raghupathy Bhat ordered the commissioner that no payment should be done for fault metres whatsoever.
