Saffron procession disrupts normal life in city; KSRTC buses misused

May 22, 2012

Mangalore, May 22: Normal life in Mangalore was thrown out of gear on Tuesday with police diverting the traffic across the city to facilitate the march of Hindutva activists towards Nehru Maidan, where a state level 'Yuva Jagruti Samavesha' is being organized by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Thousands of commuters stranded for hours across the city due to the traffic disruption. Elderly men and women stuck in confusion when the city and private buses in which they arrived here from different parts took strange routs.

The traffic diversions began ahead of a grand procession which started at around 2:00 pm from Jyothi Circle. Chief Minister D V Sadanada Gowda, Home and Transport Minister R Ashok, State BJP chief K S Eshwarappa, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Deputy Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly N Yogish Bhat, Mangalore MP Nalink Kumar Kateel were among those who participated in the rally.

Though the procession formally flagged off at Jyothi Circle, saffron activists came in small processions from various parts of the city adding to the traffic woes. Parking was also prohibited in many places for few hours.

KSRTC buses misused

Hundreds of vehicles were arranged by the ruling BJP to bring people to the convention ground from different parts of district and State. Dozens of KSRTC buses were also seen trafficking people to the Nehru Maidan from other districts.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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