Mangaluru: A protest was staged in Kadri Shivbagh ward on Tuesday evening, October 27, demanding the immediate repair of the badly damaged main road. Led by Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath, the protest targeted the Congress government in Karnataka and the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) over the alleged failure to allocate adequate funds for road development.
The protest was attended by MCC corporator Kaveesh Nataraj, Satish Kava, residents of Uttamanthota and BJP workers. The demonstrators raised slogans against the state government and the civic administration, demanding immediate action to address the deteriorating road conditions and ensure safer travel for motorists and pedestrians.
The protesters alleged that repeated complaints about the condition of the road had failed to produce the required response from the authorities. They called for the potholes to be filled and the damaged stretch repaired without further delay.
MLA gives MCC two days to repair road
Addressing the gathering, MLA Vedavyas Kamath demanded that the authorities fill the potholes and repair the Kadri Shivbagh main road within two days. He warned that if the civic administration failed to act within the deadline, BJP workers and local residents would take up karaseva, or voluntary community service, to fill the potholes themselves.
Kamath said the road had deteriorated considerably, making daily commuting difficult and raising concerns about the safety of road users. Potholes and damaged surfaces can pose risks to two-wheeler riders, cyclists, pedestrians and motorists, particularly during periods of heavy traffic.
He alleged that despite repeated media reports and complaints from residents, the government had not released adequate funds to address the problem.
The two-day deadline was intended to press the corporation into taking immediate action rather than allowing the issue to remain unresolved. The protesters called on officials to prioritise the repair work and respond to the concerns raised by people living in the area.
Kamath questions administration of MCC
The MLA also criticised the current administration of the Mangaluru City Corporation, pointing out that the term of its elected members had ended nearly two years ago.
According to Kamath, the civic body was being administered by government-appointed officials, and former corporators had continued to submit representations regarding problems in their respective wards.
He alleged that these representations were not receiving adequate attention and that residents were being left to deal with unresolved civic issues.
The absence of an elected council has become a point of contention in the protest, with Kamath questioning the responsiveness of the officials responsible for managing the corporation’s affairs.
He maintained that basic civic services, including road maintenance, should receive prompt attention and that complaints concerning public safety should not be allowed to remain pending.
The protesters said the condition of the Kadri Shivbagh main road illustrated the need for greater accountability in addressing local infrastructure problems.
BJP alleges shortage of development funds
Referring to Mangaluru’s development, Kamath claimed that substantial grants had been utilised for infrastructure and other development works during the previous BJP government.
He alleged that the city had received inadequate funding for development over the past three-and-a-half to four years under the incumbent Congress government.
Kamath questioned the allocation of public funds, arguing that road infrastructure and other essential civic works required adequate financial support. He also criticised the state government’s guarantee schemes, alleging that the emphasis on these programmes had not been matched by sufficient funding for urban infrastructure.
The MLA said the government should ensure that Mangaluru receives the funds required to maintain its roads and address the problems faced by residents across different wards.
These remarks formed a central part of the BJP’s criticism of the state government during the demonstration. The protest was presented by the party as an effort to draw attention to local civic grievances and demand action on infrastructure issues.
The funding allegations were made by the protesters, and no response from the state government or the MCC was included in the information provided about the demonstration.
Residents demand safer roads and quicker action
The protesters raised slogans demanding better roads and an end to delays in development work. Among the slogans were “We don’t want empty guarantees, fix the roads of our town,” “Develop the roads” and “Stop the delays and focus on development.”
The slogans reflected the demonstrators’ demand that the authorities give greater priority to road maintenance and the timely resolution of civic complaints.
For residents, the condition of the main road is a practical concern affecting everyday movement. Damaged stretches and potholes can inconvenience commuters, slow traffic and increase the risk of accidents, particularly for two-wheeler users who may have to manoeuvre around uneven surfaces.
The protesters called for the repair of the Kadri Shivbagh road to be treated as an immediate priority, rather than being delayed until broader development plans or funding decisions are finalised.
They also urged the authorities to improve their response to complaints from residents and ensure that similar road-related problems across the city receive timely attention.
BJP plans further protests across Mangaluru
Kamath said the BJP would organise similar protests and padayatras in different wards of Mangaluru in the coming days to highlight civic problems and press the authorities for solutions.
The proposed demonstrations would focus on issues affecting residents and seek to hold the government and the civic administration accountable for addressing local infrastructure concerns.
The Kadri Shivbagh protest concluded with a renewed demand for the immediate repair of the main road. Kamath reiterated the two-day deadline and warned that BJP workers and residents would undertake voluntary pothole-filling work if the authorities failed to respond.
Whether the MCC would complete the requested repairs within the stipulated period was not stated.