Mangaluru: Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) announced that the state government has granted approval for renaming a 1-kilometer stretch of road extending from Circuit House to Bejai Circle in honor of George Fernandes.
Addressing reporters, Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur disclosed that the council had unanimously endorsed the proposal to dedicate this stretch of road to George Fernandes, and subsequently forwarded it to the state government for official sanction.
A commemorative event is scheduled to take place following the upcoming elections to mark the renaming of the road. Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Urban Development Minister Suresh Byrathi for their support in approving the proposal.
Highlighting George Fernandes’ significant contributions to the labor movements during the 1960s and 1970s in Mumbai, as well as his successful electoral endeavors, including Lok Sabha representation from Bihar, Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur underscored Fernandes’ illustrious political career. Notably, Fernandes served as the Defense Minister in the inaugural NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and held the position of Railways Minister in 1989 within VP Singh’s National Front government.
Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur acknowledged the persistent advocacy by various individuals, including Richard Moras, the convener of Konkani Lekhakara Sangha, for the naming of a road after George Fernandes. He mentioned that as a corporator during Jayanand Anchan’s tenure as mayor of Mangaluru, he had raised the matter in the council.
Additionally, Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur informed that efforts are underway to rename the Chokkabettu-Krishnapura-Katipalla-Kana-Katla-Surathkal Road in tribute to Capt M V Pranjal, who sacrificed his life in a skirmish with terrorists in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Allocation of Rs 30 lakh from the MCC’s budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 has been earmarked for the development of Flight Lieutenant Ronald Kevin Serrao and Chokkabettu-Surathkal Road.
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