By News Karnataka

Copyright newskarnataka

Mangaluru: Citizens staged a peaceful protest in front of the Mini Vidhana Soudha in Mangaluru on Monday, voicing strong opposition to the dangerous potholes plaguing city roads and highways. The demonstrators referred to these potholes as “death traps,” highlighting the grave risk they pose to commuters.

Anger over poor road conditions

The protesters expressed frustration over the poor state of highways and city roads, particularly after shoddy patchwork repairs were recently carried out. Many questioned the accountability of officials and elected representatives in ensuring safe infrastructure.

“Where are our tax contributions going?” asked one of the participants, pointing to the repeated collection of property tax, road tax, and other levies. Citizens said that despite paying multiple taxes, they were left with roads that were unsafe and riddled with craters.

Call for accountability

Protesters urged fellow residents not to restrict their dissatisfaction to social media trolling but to confront the issue directly by questioning their representatives. “Our roads are no better than wells. Nobody questions this. Instead of just venting online, let us raise our voices in public and demand answers,” said a protester.

The sentiment was echoed by several students and young participants, who emphasised the need for greater civic activism to bring about change. They argued that raising strong questions in public spaces was the only way to ensure that infrastructure issues were addressed with seriousness.

Youth participation in the protest

The demonstration saw participation from local citizens across age groups, with a notable presence of students and youth. Their involvement highlighted the growing frustration among the younger generation about civic infrastructure and urban planning in Mangaluru.

Those present at the protest included Karthik Suvarna, Vijith, Denin, Rachel, Radhika, Pooja, and several others who gathered to collectively demand immediate action.

The peaceful protest in Mangaluru served as a strong reminder of the urgent need to address the city’s deteriorating road conditions. With potholes continuing to cause accidents and inconvenience, citizens made it clear that they would no longer remain silent. The call for accountability and transparency is expected to mount pressure on civic authorities and elected representatives to ensure that safer roads are provided to the public.