No Vehicles on Krishna Temple's Car Street

The Empty Car Street || Photo Courtesy : Suraj C

Udupi:The Car Street at the Udupi Sree Krishna Temple has been declared a vehicle free zone abiding by the orders put forth by P Hemalata, Deputy Commissioner, Udupi District.

The notification put forth on Jan 31st by the Deputy Commoisioner has asked for a complete ban of vehicular movement on the road due to security concerns and  terrorist threats to the Sri Krishna Math/Temple.  The issue of making the Street a vehicle-free zone was highlighted in the General Body Meeting of the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) earlier the same day and the probable inconvience that may arise for the shopkeepers near the temple were discussed.

"There is a certain amount of confusion regarding the  Kollur-Subrahmanya State highway, which passes through the Car Street", said Shyamprasad Kudva, Councillor. "The Councillors should be consulted before any action or else it will lead to the common people suffering. The residents of the area were objecting to installation of gates for the four roads leading to the Car Street. It was the CMC that was cleaning the area and maintaining the streetlights", added Kudva.

The release also indicated that facilities for vehicle parking had been made at different places. Consequent to the ban, the administration will also be changing the flow of traffic on roads leading to Car Street.

"During annual festivals like the Raathotsava or the Partyaya, traffic jams at the car street used to cause inconvenience, which is why it will be better to ban vehicles on the street altogether", said Rameshwar Pai, a visitor at the temple.

Shopkeepers and residents of Car Street, who have formed the Nalku Veethi Nivasigala Vedike, also staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office on Jan 30th, protesting against the district administration's decision of making the street into a vehicle-free zone. Shopkeepers on the street downed shutters from 10 am to 4 pm that day.

Sub-edited by: Kerban Billimoria