Sir,

As depicted in this image, a huge tree branch, along with its smaller branches, extends perilously close to the power lines adjacent to the concrete pole at the intersection of 4th/3rd Main Road and 13th Cross Junction in Ramakrishnanagar, E&F Block, 2nd Stage.

The branch is positioned very near to the pole, which stands at the corner with no additional support. Should the branch collapse onto the power lines, it could result in the pole breaking, causing significant damage and disrupting the power supply to the entire street.

I urge the authorities concerned to promptly address this issue by removing the hazardous tree branch, especially with the impending arrival of rain and storms.

– H.S. Shivaram, Mysuru, 3.2.2024

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Sir,

Apropos the letter “Why barricade junctions and Ring Road stretches?” (SOM dated Jan. 29), I fully endorse the views  expressed by Ananda Kumar.

The reader has clearly highlighted the issues faced by the motorists while manoeuvring the barricades placed by the Police to control the traffic.

No doubt the barricades do act as speed-breakers, but unfortunately most of the barricades are not properly placed by the Traffic Police and such barricades are worse than the unscientifically designed humps. 

Also many of the sponsored barricades do not have red reflectors, which reduces the visibility of such barricades.

Barricades should be placed by the Traffic Police in such a way that vehicles are forced to slow down and also permit  the  vehicles  to manoeuvre the space between the barricades easily. Now the space between the barricades is too small, causing steering issues for heavy vehicles, which results in temporary blocking of smooth flow of vehicles.

The best option would be to go for scientifically designed elevated speed-breakers. Such elevated speed-breakers will force the motorists to slow down and will also support the vehicles to cross the speed-breakers safely without  any violation of lane discipline.

– K. Chandrahas, Mysuru, 3.2.2024

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Sir,

There is an autorickshaw stand opposite Apollo BGS Hospital on Adichunchanagiri Road. The rickshaws would park parallel to the footpath earlier, as is normally done elsewhere, but of late for reasons unknown, they have started parking perpendicular to the footpath, consuming a lot more space on the road than needed (see photo).

This is an extremely busy and chaotic stretch with many vehicles turning into and out of the hospital and the parking lot opposite the hospital. The way the rickshaws park now is adding to the problem, constricting the space for vehicles to move.

 I request the Kuvempunagar Traffic Police to take note of this and get the rickshaws to park parallel to the footpath again.

– S. Nagarajan, Kuvempunagar, 15.2.2024

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Sir,

The recent tragic loss of three innocent lives due to poorly designed and installed road humps should serve as a wake-up call for both the MCC and City Traffic Police. Numerous road humps can be observed across the city, each seemingly designed according to the whims and fancies of MCC engineers.

Despite repeated fatalities attributed to these poorly constructed humps, there seems to be a lack of centralised monitoring. Why hasn’t the MCC established a dedicated unit specifically tasked with the design and installation of road humps?

Given the varied Zones under the MCC’s jurisdiction and the differing requirements for road humps in various localities, it’s apparent that current approaches often neglect important parameters. It’s high time for the MCC to consider establishing a specialised cell responsible for the standardised design and installation of road humps, working closely with the Traffic Police and adhering strictly to the standards set forth by the Indian Roads Congress.

Road humps must be designed with the safety and convenience of drivers in mind. In my opinion, the scientific road hump located in front of the Mysuru Zilla Panchayat Office serves as a model for what should be implemented across Mysuru — a design that effectively slows down vehicles while ensuring driver comfort and safety.

– Vijay Hemmige, Vijayanagar Railway Layout, 14.2.2024

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Sir,

Today, I narrowly avoided being another casualty of MCC’s negligence when a huge tree fell just seconds after I passed through the road I regularly traverse, connecting Ashokapuram and Manandavadi Road behind NIE College and NIE Hostel (SOM report on Feb. 12 ‘Tree crash at Ashokapuram hampering traffic movement’ ).

The tree’s integrity appears compromised due to the regular burning of fallen leaves at its base by the MCC Pourakarmikas. While motorists are rigorously expected to adhere to every safety regulation, what measures the authorities will impose to safeguard against death caused by falling trees, defective road infrastructure and encroached footpaths. Perhaps pedestrians will soon be mandated to wear helmets.

In an environment where basic life security is compromised, it’s disheartening to witness Governmental priorities focused on enforcing regulations like HSRP. It’s imperative for a fundamental shift in the Governmental working culture and ethics to prioritise citizen safety above all else.

— E. Venkatesh, Vidyaranyapuram, 12.2.2024

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Sir,

The concrete road medians installed on Adichunchanagiri Road – Sree Cauvery Educational Institutions Junction in Kuvempunagar are posing a danger to motorists.

The haphazardly placed medians are inconveniencing passing vehicles. With no reflectors attached to the ends of these medians, motorists are at risk of colliding with them, especially at night, potentially causing injuries and vehicle damage.

I urge the authorities concerned to promptly address and rectify these medians to prevent potentially fatal accidents.

– A concerned citizen, Kuvempunagar, 12.2.2024

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Following the publication of the letter titled ‘EXPOSED NUTS & BOLTS- Road hump near MCC Chief’s house poses danger’ in yesterday’s Voice of the Reader column of Star of Mysore, the authorities from the Mysuru City Corporation have swiftly addressed the issue.

The missing rubber segment of the speed hump on the road leading to the MCC Commissioner’s official residence in Yadavagiri has been replaced and securely fastened with bolts and nuts. The public has expressed gratitude to the officials for their prompt and efficient action.

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Road hump near MCC Chief’s house poses danger

Sir,

Unscientific, faulty-designed and worn-out speed humps present significant risks and have often tragically proven fatal for two-wheeler riders while also potentially causing spinal injuries and exacerbating chronic back pain. The recent incidents on Bogadi Main Road, where three motorists lost their lives due to unscientific road humps, have heightened my awareness and caution when encountering such obstacles.

Today, while navigating the road leading to the MCC Commissioner’s residence in Yadavagiri, I encountered a rubber speed hump installed on the roadway. This particular hump consists of segmented rubber components, with one segment missing at its centre.

Consequently, the bolts and nuts used to secure these segments to the road surface are now exposed, with one bolt visibly bent from the weight of passing heavy vehicles and the remaining bolts dangerously protruding. Over time, the constant traffic passing over these exposed iron bolts could potentially be hazardous to both vehicles and pedestrians. With vehicles passing over the rubber speed humps regularly, the remaining speed hump segments will also come off exposing the iron bolts and nuts.

Considering the prominent location of the MCC Commissioner’s residence along this road, it’s perplexing how the responsible authorities overlooked the danger posed by these exposed bolts till now. It’s conceivable that many MCC officials, including those tasked with maintaining road safety, have traversed on this route without noticing the hazard.

I urge the authorities to promptly address this issue by either repairing the missing segment of the rubber speed bump or removing the exposed bolts altogether. Failure to take action could lead to preventable accidents and injuries.

– A concerned citizen, Mysuru, 11.2.2024

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Sir,

Of late, the Mysuru City Railway Station has been grappling with challenges in managing the arrival and departure of trains to various destinations. Our MP Pratap Simmha has taken proactive steps to address the situation. He has successfully obtained clearance from the Railway Minister and Railway Board for the expansion of City Station, and the work has begun.

Additionally, the MP has directed officials to expedite the inauguration of Ashokapuram Railway Station. However, it is unfortunate that SWR officials at the headquarters in Hubballi have turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to this matter.

The SWR General Managers (GMs) in Hubballi seem to have primarily focused on Hubballi side and shown little interest in improving matters in Mysuru.

Also, there has been a persistent push to permanently close down Mysuru-Chamarajanagar Section by successive GMs, despite the evident need for connectivity in the region.  For instance, while Vishwamanava Express was introduced to alleviate burden on passengers travelling in Chamundi Express, operational inefficiencies have undermined its purpose. The concerns of commuters, despite numerous suggestions, have been disregarded by officials from Bengaluru and Hubballi.

The inauguration of expanded Ashokapuram Railway Station, developed to address growing needs of the region, has been inexplicably delayed. This neglectful attitude threatens to hinder the progress of Mysuru.

The General Manager of the South Western Railway must take immediate action to inaugurate the expanded Station and alleviate the transportation challenges faced by the people of Mysuru, particularly those commuting from the southern parts of the city.

We urge MP Pratap Simmha to engage with the concerned Ministry to expedite the clearance for the inauguration of the Ashokapuram Railway Station.

– B. Shekar, Mysuru, 7.2.2024

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Sir,

The current system of cameras installed at traffic signals utilises panning cameras, which require manual control by an operator to observe each direction.

Recently, while waiting at Kalamandira Junction to make a right turn, I observed violators proceeding straight through the intersection when the signal was red. This occurred because the panning camera was focused on the road near Kalamandira, allowing violators to exploit this blind spot and disregard the signal with impunity.

To address this issue effectively, I suggest that each junction should be equipped with separate Artificial Intelligence-based cameras, each facing a specific road independently. This modification would eliminate blind spots and provide comprehensive coverage of traffic violations at intersections. Hope Traffic Police will take proactive measures to enhance traffic monitoring and enforcement.

– Sanjay Kini, Mysuru, 7.2.2024

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