Absence of towing vehicles with the city traffic police or with Mangaluru City Corporation, allowing one-way traffic on some roads, banning roadside parking of private buses, and shifting of bus shelters from road junctions were some of the topics discussed at a meeting called by Mayor Kavita Sanil to address traffic issues in the city on Tuesday.
But the meeting did not take any decision to address the issues in a time-bound manner. Though some issues have to be addressed by the Transport Department, its officials had not been invited to the meeting.
The Mayor said that traffic issues would be discussed every month, henceforth.
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J.R. Lobo, MLA, Mangaluru City South, and some councillors said that many people parked their vehicles haphazardly as they did not have the fear of their vehicles being towed away by police. Owners of such vehicles should be fined, it was suggested.
Stating that there was a dire need to allow one-way traffic on some roads, the MLA asked elected representatives not to bring political pressure on the police not to implement the same or withdraw the system implemented. “Let police handle traffic issues scientifically,” Mr. Lobo said.
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The MLA said that in Bengaluru, people drove vehicles up to five or six km extra owing to one-way restrictions. If it was possible in the capital, why not in Mangaluru, he asked.
Mr. Lobo also raised objection to some elected representatives bowing to pressures, demanding unscientific openings in medians. Having too many median openings would only result in more accidents, he said.
The MLA, who was formerly the Commissioner of the corporation, said that drivers of private buses parked their vehicles on roadside and washed them there itself dirtying the road. This menace was increasing in the Kadri Park Road now. They should make their own arrangements to park buses.
The MLA suggested that the corporation should create parking islands in the city. It was enough even if public space was available to park five vehicles.