In a significant public outreach effort, Mangaluru Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV, who also serves as the administrator of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), conducted a phone-in programme on Thursday. The initiative witnessed an overwhelming response, with the official receiving over 30 phone calls from citizens airing a range of issues. The grievances highlighted during the session primarily revolved around persistent civic problems such as garbage management, inadequate transportation facilities, and the urgent demand for better roads and footpaths across the city.
Citizen Grievances and Immediate Responses
The direct line to the DC brought forth specific and pressing concerns from residents. One caller, Ramayya from Bajal, complained about the irregular services of private buses on his route, which often cut trips during morning and night hours. He also pointed out that the KSRTC bus service previously available in his area had been discontinued, severely affecting daily commuters.
In response, DC Darshan provided a concrete update on a major public transport upgrade. He informed that 100 electric government buses have been sanctioned for Mangaluru under the central and state government's PM-eBus Sewa Scheme. The tender process for supplying these buses is already complete. The administration expects the first batch of 50 buses to arrive by March 2025, with the remaining 50 buses following in the second phase within the next three months. Operational bases are being prepared at two locations, including Mudipu, and the recruitment and training of additional drivers are currently in progress to man the new fleet.
Humanitarian Intervention and Animal Welfare Plans
A particularly emotional appeal came from a woman seeking help to retrieve her daughter's original educational documents from a private college. She explained that her daughter, a high-scoring student, had initially enrolled and paid fees for a BSc nursing course at a private college. However, after securing a seat under the government quota, she switched colleges. The former institution had withheld her original documents for over four months, despite repeated requests. The DC immediately directed his officials to resolve the matter, emphasizing that such issues must be addressed on humanitarian grounds.
On the topic of animal welfare, the DC addressed a query regarding stray dog management. Following Supreme Court directives and state government guidelines, the administration is working on local rehabilitation solutions for stray dogs. Sites near Neermarga and Bondathila have been inspected for this purpose, with a requirement of at least 10 acres of land. The plan will be implemented in phases, with sites being identified in Mangaluru, Mulki, and Ullal first, followed by Mangaluru North and South constituencies. The government will be approached for necessary funding for these projects.
A Renewed Channel for Public Voice
The phone-in programme, attended by MCC Commissioner Ravichandra Nayak and other senior and junior officials, marked a revival of a direct public grievance redressal system. While such programmes were common during the tenure of elected representatives, the term of the MCC council ended on February 27, 2025. Since then, the Deputy Commissioner has taken over as the corporation's administrator. This event was notably the first phone-in session held in ten months, re-establishing a vital communication link between the city's administration and its residents.
