Mangalore/Udupi, June 7: Chaos rules the roost on the roads of the temple town of Udipi. The authorities concerned have failed in providing pedestrian facilities while developing the city’s roads. Though most of the roads have been concertized, the district administration did not build footpaths throwing walkers’ safety to the wind.
There are no footpaths on the busy roads near Chittaranjandas Circle, Sanskrit College and City and Service bus stand areas and pedestrians have to scurry for safety. The city’s rising vehicle density especially two-wheelers too add to walkers’ miseries. Two-wheelers have encroached upon the spaces given for pedestrians and park their vehicles haphazardly obstructing the pathways.
Yogish Suvarna, a private employee, told that construction of footpaths should be included while granting sanctions to road projects. “Otherwise, it gets delayed for many years. Pedestrians including women and children are forced to walk on busy roads in the absence of footpaths. The city municipal corporation should set aside some funds to construct footpaths on all roads in Udupi,” he added.
An official from the public works department, who did not want to be named, told that the department has given permission for a footpath on the stretch between Bannanje and Kadiyali and tender for the project has also been approved. The estimated cost of the footpath on the 2.4 kilo metre road is Rs 6 crore and the works will be taken up after monsoon, the official said.
He added that a proposal for constructing a footpath from Kadiyali to Manipal has been submitted to the state government. The construction works will begin once the approval is obtained, he said.
