Mangaluru: Locals have urged the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) and Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath to intervene and restore Kadri public playground, alleging that the children’s recreational space is increasingly being used for two-wheeler driving lessons, medical camps and related activities, and parking of commercial vehicles.Residents said the regular movement of vehicles and other activities have restricted children from using the playground. They also raised concerns over inadequate maintenance, security and the frequent removal or bypassing of barricades installed to prevent unauthorised access.One resident said the community had earlier approached the MLA seeking the development of a proper playground. “I first went to the MLA with 150 signatures to request that a proper playground be made,” he said.The resident said the issue had also been raised during the Prajaseva Andolan public hearing on Sept 26, where authorities assured residents that steps would be taken to maintain the facility. “When the medical staff or two-wheeler learners come in, they do not let children play,” he alleged. Referring to the assurances received from authorities, the resident said, “They promised us that they will do their best to maintain it, but we are still waiting for action.”A few days earlier, even KSRTC buses were seen parked in the ground premises, the resident added.Ex-corporator Manohar Shetty said the present situation was temporary and linked to two ongoing road projects in the area. He said concreting work on the Kadri Kambla main road had necessitated the closure of the entire stretch to traffic, leaving nearby residents without access to their usual driveways and street parking. To accommodate vehicles during the road closure, temporary parking access was provided inside the Kadri playground.“Because major road works are happening and roads are blocked, we had to provide access to the public for parking,” Shetty said. He said measures had initially been taken to secure the playground and prevent unauthorised use. “In my budget, I had everything fenced and barricades locked, but a few two-wheeler learners still come, especially on Sundays,” Shetty added.The second project involves the road connecting Kadri ground to City Hospital, which Shetty said had deteriorated completely and was approved for reconstruction as a concrete road. MLA Vedavyas Kamath performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the project, with active civil works scheduled to begin on Monday.Shetty said the City Hospital road project is expected to take about a month to complete, and that the temporary parking arrangement at the playground will be discontinued once the work is over. Residents have sought regular maintenance and stronger security measures to ensure that the playground remains accessible to children, even while infrastructure works continue in the surrounding area.
