When you walk through the city you have to guard your step- for a vacant space is really hard to find. However, in the most prime area of Mangalore lies a place portraying signs of urban decay, owned by the City Corporation that has failed to develop it.
The Mangalore old bus stand seems to be heading towards ruin. Located in the heart of the city, it is behind Mangalore’s first building Ballal Apartments. The old bus stand is spread over an area of 1.55 acres belonging to the MCC. Nearly 55 cents land belonging to private parties is also located adjacent to this ground. The Corporation had given the land to MUDA on a 35 year lease.
The Mangalore old service bus stand was developed during the then Madras Presidency. There was a plan to demolish it in 1966 when the elected body in Mangalore was absent. The bus stand building was eventually demolished.
Once the town’s most frequented place by people, today it stands as a mute witness to the lackadaisical approach and apathy of our authorities.
Present Scenario
The current situation is such that the land has been completely ignored. The old bus stand is now a witness to the following – it’s used for parking but there are a lot of constraints – the land is being used for public urination as well as dumping garbage . Illegal street vendors are also plenty here. The street vendors throw the waste around their cart leaving the entire space unhygienic and stinking. Several beggars too have made this bus stand their residence.
Parking Disaster
The land was mainly intended to be used for parking, and at present a tender has been awarded to a private contractor. However there are numerous complaints.
It is learnt that most of the occupants do not pay for the parking space due to which the contractor incurs a lot of loss and in-turn the corporation, tends to spawn loss.
A local shop keeper said that most of them are regular occupants and work in the adjacent buildings due to which they find it difficult to pay for the parking space on a daily basis.
The then MUDA commissioner, Krishnappa Poojari had shown his willingness to construct a multi-storage commercial complex and parking lot on the given land. The Dharam Singh led government had also given an approval for the same, however things lingered.
In 2005, the then MLA N Yogish Bhat had said that the MCC and MUDA would jointly take up the project. In 2009 the then Urban Development Minister Suresh Kumar also took interest in the multi level parking complex project, but the plan never materialised.
Ramesh S, former MUDA Chairman too had spoken about the project and a blue print for the project in a 2.61 acre of the land was also kept ready by MUDA. But there has been no positive response for the implementation through PPP model so far.
Street Vendors’ issue
In a city with so little available land, the street vendors have also made good use of this prime location. Several street vendors illegally conduct their business in the area.
They get an auto / tempo and build a tent adjoining it and conduct their business in the evening hours until late night until around11.00 pm. After finishing their business they exit leaving behind a dump of wastes further adding to the problem.
Garbage Crisis and Public urination
The dirt in the locality is another crisis. The garbage bin that stands in a corner of four square lands overflows and is not been cleaned on a regular basis.
It is also been alleged by the occupants of the adjacent buildings that a newly opened shop in the area induced the MCC workers to shift the bin that was earlier situated besides the public toilet, which was next to the shop.
Irrespective of a public toilet constructed by the corporation in the old bus stand, people urinate in the open. It is understood that people from poor background cannot even offer Rs 2 or Rs 3 for the maintenance of the public toilet, and therefore urinate publicly. There are many who even complain that the condition of the public toilet is worse.
Nevertheless, the old bus stand is still being used for parking purpose even as the area is rotting with stink and garbage all round. Surely, the administration may cite its own reasons for leaving the area unused. But, still efforts must be put in to make good use of this land in a prime area. All we can do is hope that the Corporation will at least pay some attention and retain the beauty of the place.
