MANGALURU: A decades-old well was found on Saturday, during the demolition of Rashtrakavi Govinda Pai Circle in the city for redevelopment.
In fact, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) had demolished a landmark circle near the PVS Circle to construct a new one on Friday.
The MCC and Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL) have plans to develop two roads adjacent to the circle.
Accordingly, the MCC demolished the Rashtrakavi Govinda Pai Circle, which was formerly known as Navabharath Circle.
On Saturday, people noticed an old well at the place where the circle existed.
Mayor Premanand Shetty, who is also the director of the MSCL, told TOI that the well is said to have been closed about 60 years ago.
“We have already decided to widen Dongarakeri road and Sharada Vidyalaya road through MSCL.
Similarly, footpaths also will be developed on both sides of all adjacent roads.
Hence, we removed the circle to facilitate these development works.
A new circle will be designed to align the newly developed roads,” Shetty said.
The MCC had officially named the circle as Rashtrakavi Govida Pai Circle.
Hence, the name of the circle will be retained as it is, and it will be developed by Sevanjali Charitable Trust.
The Trust had submitted a request letter to the city corporation a few months ago to develop the circle and maintain it.
The Trust will submit a design and commence the work soon after an approval from the city corporation, he said.
On the old well found at the circle, Shetty said it was closed to develop the road about 60 years ago when Vaman Kodialbail was the chairman of Mangaluru Municipality.
“We have plans to retain the well by inserting rings and keep it as a monument,” he added.
In September last year, a century old well was found when concretisation works were being taken up at Hampankatta.
The well has been restored.