Mangaluru: Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur announced that the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) will soon initiate a drive to evict illegal footpath vendors to ensure pedestrian convenience. This decision came during a phone-in program at the city corporation on Friday, where the mayor received multiple complaints about footpath encroachments. He directed health and revenue officials to clear vendors obstructing pedestrian movement in various parts of the city.
A significant number of complaints highlighted issues with street food vendors in Mahaveer Circle and Kankanady. One caller, Karunakara Shetty, mentioned mobile canteens on Falnir – Ambedkar Circle Road causing inconvenience to both vehicles and pedestrians. The mayor responded by instructing revenue officials to survey government land and designate vending zones in each ward. Vendors continuing to encroach on footpaths after this marking will face action.
Another caller, Jayaprakash Ekkur, raised concerns about suspected corruption in the riverfront project by Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL). He pointed out that a retaining wall constructed as part of the project had collapsed. Mayor Shetty acknowledged the issue and mentioned that he raised it in the Smart City Board meeting. He assured that the contractor would rebuild the wall at no additional cost to MSCL and that the project is currently stalled pending clearance from the NGT.
Additionally, Ignatius D’Souza complained about open defecation by laborers near the railway tracks at Niddel and Kulashekar, further highlighting the need for improved sanitation measures.
