Mangaluru : City Corporation officials and traffic police will begin a joint inspection of encroachments on footpaths and roads in the city starting from PVS Circle to State Bank of India bus terminus from Wednesday, according to Mayor Kavita Sanil.

Replying to a question at a monthly phone-in programme here on Tuesday, the Mayor said that she has been receiving many complaints on petty shops encroaching upon footpaths and pushcart eateries and mobile canteens on roadsides coming in the way of pedestrians. Such issues along the road between PVS Circle and SBI bus terminus via KS Rao Road and Hampankatta would be sorted out first.

A caller Mahesh said that there was a need for a road hump on Ganapathi High School Road in front of the school as schoolchildren found it difficult to cross the road. Stone slabs on footpaths on the same road have caved in at many places. The Mayor promised to do the needful once it stopped raining.

A doctor Arun Rao told the Mayor that many two-wheeler riders were using the footpath on the Light House Hill Road which was witnessing frequent traffic jams these days. The Mayor said that the issue would be taken up with the traffic police.

Nalini from Pumpwell complained that a mobile canteen was always parked near the Capitaniyo School. Many two-wheeler riders also parked their vehicles close to it for having food. Hence, pedestrians were finding it difficult to walk on the road.

A caller suggested to the Mayor to introduce a WhatsApp number for people to report their complaints on civic issues. The Mayor said that she would examine it.

Another caller pointed out the frequent traffic jams at Padil on the National Highway 75. He said that he travelled daily between Mangaluru and Belthangady.

As there was no storm-water drains at the railway underpass and as the highway had worn out, it was resulting in traffic jams and slow movement of traffic affecting many commuters. The Mayor promised to look into it.

There was a suggestion to build a road from Dhanvantri Nagar to Mahammayi temple in the Car Street area. The Mayor replied that its possibility would be studied.