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Locals have expressed their concern and called for the statue to be relocated to an appropriate location. While NHAI authorities have confirmed that the relocation is inevitable, they have not yet provided any details regarding the new location. The public is urging the authorities to discuss the matter with the Mangaluru City Corporation and find a suitable place for the statue before moving it.
Srinivas Mallya, who served as the first MP for Dakshina Kannada district, played a pivotal role in the region’s development. During his tenure, significant infrastructure projects such as the construction of New Mangalore Port Authority, the Mangalore-Bangalore railway line, KREC (now NITK), National Highway 66, All India Radio station, Ullal Bridge, Circuit House, and the Mangalore Kudmul Ranganath Rao Town Hall were completed. He was instrumental in transforming the district’s landscape through these initiatives.
A similar incident occurred during the construction of the flyover in Pumpwell, where the Kalasha at the Mahavver circle was removed without finding a proper alternative location, resulting in its poor upkeep. Currently, it is abandoned in a corner, in a deteriorated condition. There are concerns that the same fate may befall the statue of Srinivas Mallya if not relocated properly. Public voices are stressing the need for respectful handling of the statue and ensuring its proper relocation, as the Kalasha incident has left people wary of a repeat situation.
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“Development works are essential, and no one opposes them. However, the statue of Ullal Srinivas Mallya, who worked tirelessly for the all-round development of the district, must be relocated to a suitable location. The municipality and NHAI officials should take appropriate measures.” — J.R. Lobo, Former MLA