Mangaluru: After the concretizing of the road from Mallikatte to Shivabagh was completed, it took some time for the City Corporation to construct a new bus stop Shelter, opposite to Mallikatte market. Three months after the bus stop was constructed, the metal sheets have now disappeared and the entry to the bus stop is barricaded.
Unplanned bus stop constructed at Mallikatte
A week ago this reporter was a witness, to commuters sitting and waiting for the bus. Today, a close look at the barricade, leads one to a scary scene behind the bus stop, with the earth below the shelter having caved in from the rear.
Even a layman can understand from the steel rods protruding out of the earth that has caved in indicating that the bus stop was constructed without any basic construction technology followed to construct it. A concrete retaining wall had to be built before the bus shelter was constructed. A shop keeper in the market opposite to the bus shelter said, that luckily, no one was in the bus shelter, when the earth caved in.
Some of them who dwell in the area say, that such a shoddy job of the bus shelter was purposefully executed, because an apartment or a high rise building behind the bus stop shelter is likely to come up on a one acre land. Once the building comes up it needs an elevated view, they said.
Earlier, a podi corner and a row of eatery under a temporary shelter had occupied this new bus shelter area. The bus stop shelter at the same spot is a necessity. There is enough space to stop the bus and there will be no problem for free flow of traffic.
When the area coporator, Ashok was contacted he said, that a separate new bus shelter for city and service buses is proposed. The bus stop will have a bus bay and will accommodate two or three buses at a time. There will be no hindrance for any of the buses to move towards the main road. A public toilet is also likely to be constructed along with a few shops. He further said that for those residents behind the bus stop shelter, steps would be constructed for them to come to the main road. He said that the proposal is before the city corporation. A tender will be called and work will be awarded once the proposal is accepted.
