Bunts hostel circle razed for road widening

TNN

Mangalore, 05 October 2010: Bunts Hostel Circle - a city landmark with a history of nearly 100 years was razed down here on Tuesday. The Bunts alias Nadavara Mathr Sangha constructed the circle when the Sangha was set up a century ago. This circle was given a facelift two decades ago and remained one of the recognisable landmarks in the city. But its presence at a road junction was proving to be a severe impediment for movement of traffic.

 

 

Ajith Kumar Rai Maladi, president, Federation of World Bunts Association and former president of Bunts Sangha told TOI here on Tuesday that the circle had high sentimental value to the Bunts community. However, its presence at a vantage point, which has a high density of traffic, was proving to be a major bottleneck for free flow of traffic, Rai said adding that the Sangha agreed to a request from the authorities to remove the circle.

 

"We received requests from the deputy commissioner, commissioner, Mangalore City Corporation commissioner and even the police authorities to demolish the circle," Rai said adding that the Sangha voluntarily accepted their request. "We do not want sentiments to come in the way of development," he said adding that the Sangha has given up a part of its land at junction abutting the road towards Mallikatte to facilitate road widening there.

 

Rai said he had taken the onus on himself to construct a new circle at a short distance from the spot where the present circle was located on the road leading to Dr Ambedkar circle. The final design and other logistic of this new circle is being worked out, he said adding that the proposal would be placed before the Sangha for approval and final execution. The initial proposal was that the civic body would reconstruct the circle, he noted.

 

Contractors executing the road concreting work on the Bunts Hostel Circle - Mallikatte Road removed the traffic signal police erected adjacent to Pai Sales International showroom there later in the evening under the supervision of traffic police. The then DK district police had installed traffic signals at the Bunts Hostel Circle junction but was not in a position to make it operational until such time that the circle was removed.