Mangaluru: To facilitate the road work from Pumpwell (Mahaveer) Circle to Kankanady Bypass, a temporary notification was issued to change the traffic route for seven months until April 15, 2026. Mangaluru City traffic police announced temporary traffic diversions to facilitate road development works.Mangaluru City police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy stated in the notification that during the first and second phases of the road work, one side of the road from Karavali Junction to Pumpwell would function as a one-way route. Similarly, the Pumpwell-Kankanady Old Road-Kankanady Junction stretch would also be made one-way for the duration of the work. The notification also imposed a strict prohibition on parking vehicles on both sides of roads that are declared one-way stretches.Vehicles coming from Padil and Thokkottu towards Pumpwell Circle and heading to Karavali Junction must travel via Kankanady Old Road, reach Kankanady Junction, take a right turn, and proceed towards Karavali Junction. Similarly, vehicles from Falnir Road and Valencia Road heading toward Pumpwell should travel straight from Kankanady Junction to Karavali Junction, then take a right turn to proceed towards Pumpwell Circle. The changes in traffic movement will continue to be in force for seven months, the commissioner stated, advising motorists to follow the revised traffic routes compulsorily.Meanwhile, there are apprehensions that the traffic changes are likely to create a mess, especially when most of the vehicles from Padil, Mudipu, Thokkottu, and Kerala depend on the two roads at present. Those vehicles will have to take the Pumpwell route to reach the city, as another major approach road via Mahakalipadpu remains closed for about four years to facilitate the work related to the construction of railway underbridges (RUB).MLC Ivan D’Souza said that he already held a discussion with the police and other officials. “I have asked the officials concerned to commence the work on Pumpwell-Kankanady stretches only after opening of the road to the city via Mahakalipadpu. I have brought to the notice of the officials the possible traffic issues, especially for emergency vehicles, if two major roads are made one-way,” he said.
