Mangaluru: The iconic time siren in Puttur, originally established in 1971 and silent for over two decades, has been restored and will begin sounding daily from Monday, MLA Ashok Kumar Rai announced.
The siren, once a familiar part of daily life in Puttur, had stopped functioning more than 20 years ago following objections from advocates, as court proceedings were held close to its location. With the court building now shifted from its earlier premises, authorities have taken steps to revive the long-silent public time signal after consultations with residents and community stakeholders.
A tradition restored
Speaking about the revival, Ashok Kumar Rai said the decision was taken after discussions with traders, local residents and various community representatives. He noted that the siren had once played an important role in helping people keep track of time in an era when personal digital devices were not widely used.
“The siren was once a tradition in Puttur, helping people organise their daily routines. We undertook the necessary repair work to restore the equipment and ensured that it is now fully functional. The pillar, built in traditional architectural style, has also been repainted and beautified,” Rai said.
The structure housing the siren has long stood as a landmark in the town. Over time, however, the mechanical system had fallen into disrepair, and the siren remained inactive for more than 20 years.
Sounding three times a day
According to the MLA, the restored siren will sound for 15 seconds, three times a day — at 8 am, 1 pm and 7 pm. The timings were finalised based on feedback from the public to ensure that the siren does not cause inconvenience.
Officials stated that the chosen hours correspond to the beginning of the workday, midday break and evening closing time for many shops and establishments in Puttur city. The sound is expected to be audible across a wide radius, allowing residents in different parts of the town to hear it clearly.
The formal inauguration of the revived siren will take place on Monday. Local leaders and community members are expected to attend the brief ceremony marking the return of a once-familiar civic feature.
Earlier objections led to silence
The siren had fallen silent after members of the legal fraternity raised concerns that its loud sound disrupted court proceedings. At that time, the court functioned in close proximity to the siren structure. Following the objections, authorities discontinued its operation.
With the court building now relocated, residents began urging local representatives to consider restoring the siren. Many long-time residents recalled how the sound once served as a reliable timekeeper for shopkeepers, students and workers before mobile phones and digital clocks became commonplace.
Blending heritage with modernity
The revival of the siren is seen by many as an effort to preserve local heritage while adapting to current needs. Apart from repairing the mechanical components, workers carried out repainting and minor structural improvements to the pillar, enhancing its visual appeal.
Traders in the town welcomed the move, saying it adds character to Puttur and reconnects the present generation with a part of the town’s history. Some senior citizens described the siren as a symbol of community rhythm, marking the passage of the day in a shared public manner.
Authorities have assured that the sound level has been checked to ensure compliance with current norms and that any concerns raised by residents will be addressed promptly.
With the restart scheduled from Monday, the people of Puttur are set to once again hear the 15-second siren echo across the town — a reminder of tradition revived after more than two decades of silence.