Wading through clouds of coal dust and slush on their way to the popular Panambur Beach in Mangaluru might be a thing of the past for tourists, if the New Mangalore Port Trust’s (NMPT) gesture to provide an alternative road to the beach becomes reality.
The existing road, about 1.5 km long, passes through the NMPT property along the port’s cargo handling facility. Regular transportation of coal through trucks from the coal handling facility has made the beach approach road almost impossible to traverse for general public.
Though coal is completely covered with tarpaulin sheets during transportation, spillages as well as dust on truck wheels enter the road. NMPT’s effort to confine dust cloud through sprinkling of water has been creating another woe — coal slush.
Maruthi from Shivamogga, who was on his way back along with the family from the beach on Thursday, said the pleasure they had on the beach was short-lived.
“It is quite difficult and embarrassing to walk either on the road or the pavement that are covered with slush,” he said.
There were quite a few like Maruthi who had been facing similar difficulties. Those riding two-wheelers to the beach too were the affected lot due to dust and slush.
Solution on the anvil
NMPT Chairman P.C. Parida told The Hindu that he was aware of the problem. “We are soon shifting to mechanised handling of coal unloading and loading, through which the problem could come down.” On the other hand, the road cannot be made out of bounds for trucks as it is adjacent to the cargo handling facility.
At the same time, the port is also planning to provide an alternative road to visitors to the beach. “I heard that the Coastal Development Authority Chairman [Nivedit Alva] would be meeting me to find out some solution. If I get some assurance from any local authority, the port can offer something to the public,” Mr. Parida said.
He said an alternative road to the beach could be provided near Baikampady, which requires an expense of about Rs. 2 crore. However, some local authority should take the responsibility of ensuring its maintenance, he said.
Panambur Beach Tourism Project, a PPP initiative, manages the beach offering various facilities
Thousands of tourists visit the beach every day
The only connecting road from NH 66 to the beach belongs to the New Mangalore Port Trust
Coal dust and slush-infested roads make travel a nightmare
