Mangaluru : The Mangaluru city police will shortly carry out a series of drives against smoking in public places and sale of cigarettes near educational institutions.

Answering a grievance during the weekly phone-in programme on Friday, Police Commissioner T.R. Suresh said the city police will carry a special drive to enforce provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA). “We have planned to have the drive for an hour every day. Dates will be announced shortly,” Mr. Suresh told reporters.

A caller from Yemmekere asked the police to act against persons smoking in public. Many persons are seen smoking at public places disregarding persons standing nearby.

A resident of Panambur highlighted the problems faced by motorists because of potholes at several places on the Mangaluru-Udupi stretch of the National Highway 66. Mr. Suresh said the condition of roads, including National Highways, in the city was deteriorating because of rain. “National Highway authorities will be asked to fill up big potholes,” he said.

A caller from Gorigudda complained against vans and autorickshaws carrying schoolchildren far in excess than the permitted number.

A resident of Padavinangady asked police to remove advertisement boards placed on the median of the road leading to Mangaluru Airport as it was blocking the view of road for motorists. A resident of Hampankatta complained against managements of some shops and hotels on K.S. Rao Road for placing railings to prevent motorists from parking their vehicles by the road side.

Another caller informed about a car and a two-wheeler without registration number that have been plying near Bhavanti Street for the last two years. A caller from Valencia asked the police to clear vehicles of a motorcycle showroom on Valencia Road that are parked on the pavement.