Bowing to pressure by activists and some members of the advisory committee of Mangaluru Smart City Ltd. (MSCL), to change the design of bus shelters being built under the ‘smart city’ mission in the city, the company has now proposed to act on the same by conducting an open design competition.
Activists and the committee members objected to the existing design as they were not user-friendly and would provide no respite to people, especially during monsoon.
Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, D. Vedavyasa Kamath, MLA, Mangaluru City South, Premananda Shetty, Leader of the Opposition in Mangaluru City Corporation council, and some other members of the committee, in its meeting on November 24, 2018, suggested changing the design of the shelters.
Sasikanth Senthil S., Deputy Commissioner and also a Director in the Board of the company, had instructed the company to retain the design of the shelters under construction and change the design of the ones to be built.
The company has issued a public notice on conducting the design competition.
According to it, the three best designs will get cash prizes of ₹10,000, ₹5,000, and ₹3,000, respectively.
The notification of January 1, 2019 said the designs chosen will be partially or fully used for the new shelters.
It said the shelters should be designed keeping in mind the weather conditions in the city and its 3 D images should be submitted.
Sources in the company told The Hindu that of 46 shelters to be built, three at Mannagudda, Kavoor and Bendor have been completed.
Shelters are under construction at Ambikanagar near Panjimogaru, Rayikatte on the Kuluru-Kavoor road, Paldane, Mullakadu, Surathkal and near the Circuit House at Kadri Hills. Adding to them, the fabrications of 11 shelters are ready as per the old design.
Hence the remaining 26 shelters could be built as per the new design to be selected, sources said.