Mangaluru: Pothole-riddled roads have become a new ‘normal’ for Mangalureans, however, a few like-minded individuals have refused to accept the new normal.
A Civic Group, backed by the Traffic Wardens, were out on the roads on Tuesday, November 19 morning, to ensure that they do their bit to keep the roads in commutable conditions. “We refuse to wait for the government to set the roads right, as they are claiming the lives of our people,” said Arjun Mascharenhas speaking to Newskarnataka.com.
The group of people assembled at Jyoti Circle in the city at about 8 AM and started laying interlock bricks in the huge pothole the Jyoti, which is one of the busiest locales of Mangaluru.
The members then proceeded to Hampankatta, Milagres, Light House Hill road, Vas Lane and other nearby areas to fill the potholes, so that motorists, espcially two-wheeler riders do not suffer any mishaps.
“We have identified 40 such spots, some on the main roads and some on interior roads. We have come to realise that protests yield no results. It is time we citizens respond to situations and that is precisely why we are here. We may be a handfull of people, but we want to do our bit,” said Mascarenhas, adding that the entire expense for the pothole filling work taken up on Tuesday, has been sponsored by Michael D’Souza and Gilbert D’Souza.
Though the group wants to extend the work, the paucity of funds is an issue. “However, whenever we find enough founds to fix the road problems, we will come forward and do it wholeheartedly,” said Mascarenhas, adding that the Nonagenarian Joe Gonsalves, who is the Chief Traffic Warden of Mangaluru City and his Traffic Warden team has helped them in a very big way while the work was under progress.
