MANGALURU: The pedestrian underpass, which is under construction near the Clock Tower in the city, is being extended, for the convenience of people.
The 10-meter-wide underpass, which is being constructed as per the previous DPR to cross the Nehru Maidan Road, is nearing completion. The next phase of work has begun to extend the length of the underpass, so that pedestrians may cross the Rao and Rao Circle-Clock Tower stretch of road.
Key features of the underpass include multiple entry or exit points on either side of the road, access paired with staircase and ramp for physically challenged, renovation of Gandhi Park into a plaza, generating commercial potential by dedicating spaces for kiosks within the plaza, and provision of space for commercial advertising and murals depicting city heritage along the underpass walls. With the first phase of underpass to cross the Nehru Maidan Road near the Mini Vidhan Soudha nearing completion, the Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL) has taken up the second phase of work. In this phase, the underpass will be extended further, for the pedestrians to cross the Rao and Rao Circle-Clock Tower Road stretch. Those who enter the pedestrian underpass from the entry point at Mini Vidhan Soudha may cross two roads, once both phases of work are completed.
Mayor Premanand Shetty informed at a council meeting of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) on Thursday, that a decision to extend the pedestrian underpass was taken at a board of directors meeting of the MSCL.
In fact, opposition leader in the council A C Vinayaraj had pointed out that the work on the second phase of underpass is unscientific, and the height of the underpass is elevated five feet above the Rao and Rao Circle-Clock Tower road. He also pointed out that it will be difficult to construct an access point on the northern side of the road. He also blamed the MSCL, that the extension was not part of the original plan of the pedestrian underpass.
Shetty, who is also the director of the MSCL, said that it was planned earlier, but was not taken up due to the cost factor. “Initially, only one phase of work was taken up, considering the cost of the project. Recently, the board meeting of the MSCL decided to commence the second phase,” he added.
