Housing layout formation, playgrounds, vehicle parking facilities are on the agenda of Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) for development. It isn't that Mangalore doesn't have facilities, but they aren't adequate, with the current growth in the city.

MUDA has jurisdiction on 60 wards of Mangalore City Corporation limits, two town panchayats (Ullal and Mulki), and 20 village panchayats . In fact, all these areas are seeing a lot of developments by private developers. Numerous multi-storeyed building, plaza, and commercial area development is on by private developers.

Quoting 2011 census figures, Mr Ramesh S, Chairman of the Authority, said around 6.46 lakh people live in the authority's planning area. MUDA expects this number to reach around 10.70 lakh people by 2021.

HOUSE SITES

Housing is the priority area for MUDA, which is planning to develop 3,000 housing sites on a 200-acre piece of land at Surathkal near Mangalore city. More than 75 acres of land have been acquired and registered for this purpose. The remaining land is in various stages of acquisition.

After acquiring the land, MUDA will begin the process of developing sites there at least by August. This should provide a significant supply of housing sites in that area, he said.

It may be mentioned here that areas on the outskirts of Mangalore, such as Surathkal, have seen rapid growth in the past few years. Many of the private real estate players are setting up their residential properties in that area.

Since its inception in 1988, MUDA was able to come out with 12 housing layouts, with 1,100 sites in its planning area. These days, more and more private developers are concentrating on the vertical growth of the city, with a few focussing on layout development.

With land being scarce in the city, even private developers are focusing on the city outskirts for layout development.

CAR PARKING

The rapid growth in construction activities in Mangalore during the past few years has put pressure on parking facilities in the area. Sometimes, people find it difficult to park their vehicles when they visit central business district — Hampankatta — in the city.

Though Mangalore City Corporation is planning to set up a multi-level car parking facility at Hampankatta, it is yet to take off.

Now, MUDA is planning to collaborate with the city administration in this matter.

Mr Ramesh said that the proposed multi-level car parking facility at Hampankatta is likely to accommodate around 1,000 cars.

Talks are on with a few building owners at Hampankatta to acquire land for constructing the facility. After acquiring the land, tenders will be floated for the construction of the facility at Hampankatta.

Added to this, plans are there to set up such facilities in some other growth areas of the city such as Pumpwell, Kankanady and Urwa Store areas, and also Surathkal and Kavoor on the outskirts of Mangalore city.

Mr Ramesh said MUDA is also contemplating seeking private participation for the construction and development of markets, swimming pools, libraries and toilets under its jurisdiction.

PLAYGROUNDS

At present, the people are mainly dependent on playgrounds such as Nehru Maidan and Mangala Stadium in the heart of the city. Though Nehru Maidan is meant for playing cricket, football and some other games, many a times it is used for social gatherings and some other purposes.

Considering the need for playgrounds in the region, Mr Ramesh said MUDA is planning to develop new playgrounds at Surathkal, Kavoor, Vamanjoor, Kadri, Adyar and Thokkottu areas in its area of jurisdiction.

Stressing the need for improving greenery in the city, he said that MUDA, in association with the Forest Department and Horticulture Department, is planning to develop parks in some areas under its jurisdiction.

The plan is to develop them in areas such as Kuloor, Surathkal, Kankanady, Attavara, Thokkottu, Bajal, Kulshekhara, Sultan Bathery, and Ullal or Deralakatte, he added.

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