Signal lights a mess in Udupi

March 28, 2011
Udupi, March 28: It is very strange here. Even the pedestrians will have to follow the signal lights to just walk (not to cross) beside the road. Thanks to lack of footpaths at the signal points. Signal lights installed a year back at Diana Circle in the city have been a nuisance and unscientific.

Even before signal light was functioning at the Diana Circle, for a small period a decade back. That had been scrapped as it had been causing heavy loss, in the form of electricity bills, to the exchequer. But as long as the signal lights functioned everything was well. Because, the roads were narrow, leaving enough room for the footpaths or pedestrians to walk. Now that the roads have been widened to the fullest, at some stretches, forget footpaths, there is no room for the pedestrians to walk beside the road.

This forces the padestrians; especially at the Diana Stores- Tyre Shop- Tender Coconut shop stretch, to halt when the vehicles moving towards PPC wait for the red light to go. Girls, when alone, will face an embarrassing situation while trapped in the midst of the vehicles at that stretch.

The hoardings too have swallowed a narrow walking path beside the cremation ground.

When the signal lights were installed it was told that the roads will be widened and footpaths will be laid. Even as the land acquisition process was in progress lights were installed an advertising agent showed interest in them. To safe guard his interests' signal lights were installed, even without a formal request from the Udupi Municipality. Police department showed `extra' interest in installing it.

Unscheduled Signal hours:

Signal lights system is being followed in the city only during unspecified hours. Neither it is followed during peak hours, nor during some specific period. This unscheduled signal light system, like the unscheduled power cut, has become a nuisance to the drivers and riders.


bs_0

bs_1

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
November 28,2025

ministerPM.jpg

Mangaluru, Nov 28: Karnataka Health Minister and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday handed over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the severe distress faced by farmers due to crashing crop prices.

PM Modi arrived at the Mangaluru International Airport en route to Udupi, where Gundu Rao welcomed him and submitted the letter. The chief minister’s message stressed that farmers are suffering heavy losses because maize and green gram are being bought far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The state urged the Centre to immediately begin procurement at MSP.

According to the letter, Karnataka has a bumper harvest this year—over 54.74 lakh metric tons of maize and 1.98 lakh metric tons of green gram—yet farmers are unable to secure fair prices. Against the MSP of ₹2,400/MT for maize and ₹8,768/MT for green gram, market rates have plunged to ₹1,600–₹1,800 and ₹5,400 respectively.

The chief minister has requested the Centre to:

• Direct NAFED, FCI and NCCF to start MSP procurement immediately.
• Ensure ethanol units purchase maize directly from farmers or FPOs.
• Increase Karnataka’s ethanol allocation, citing high production capacity.
• Stop maize imports, which have depressed domestic prices.
• Relax quality norms for green gram, allowing up to 10% discoloration due to rains.

The letter stresses that MSP is crucial for farmer dignity and income stability and calls for swift central intervention to prevent a deepening crisis.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.