Mangaluru: Areas around Mahakalipadpu in south Mangaluru got a fresh look even as the main road near the railway level crossing gate came to have metal road cones, to prevent vehicles clogging the gate, during the 14th week of Swachata Abhiyan of Mangaluru Ramakrishna Mission on Sunday.

Around 250 volunteers were divided into six groups who undertook the cleanliness work. Students of St. Aloysius College under the guidance of Prof. Ishwara Bhat cleaned the area from the railway crossing to Morgan’s Gate main road, including the adjoining drains.

Another group of students, under Prof. Sheshappa Amin, cleaned the area from Mahakalipadpu to National Highway 66. Volunteers of Swachh Mangaluru cleaned the shoulders of the railway track by removing weeds, grass, plastic bottles and other waste (which filled two tippers). Employees of Antony Waste Management too chipped in.

With the narrow road near the level crossing getting frequently clogged with vehicles, and earlier attempts by locals to place barricades to segregate vehicles having failed, volunteers installed metal cones on either side of the level crossing.

As the level crossing is closed frequently because of regular movement trains to and from Mangaluru Central, vehicles pile up at the crossing as it is the shortest thoroughfare between south Mangaluru and NH 66 towards Kerala.

After consulting with locals, volunteers drilled the road and erected about 20 metal cones. They also attempted to spread awareness about traffic rules by speaking to regular road users. Another group of volunteers cleaned the bus shelter at the junction of Mahakalipadpu Road with NH 66. They also gave a fresh coat of paint to the shelter.

Swachh Mangaluru volunteers have been visiting hundreds of households, shops and business establishments for three months to spread awareness on cleanliness.