Kerala - Kochi   

Rallies add to commuters' woes

John L. Paul and Renu Ramanath

Residents, shopkeepers worst hit

John L. Paul and

Renu Ramanath

KOCHI: Kochiites have begun to feel the pinch of rallies taken out by political parties and organisations along arterial roads in the city. Two mega rallies within the span of a fortnight recently threw life out of gear in Kochi. This is apart from the inconvenience caused by thousands of vehicles pouring into the city within the span of a few hours, carrying the rallyists.

High Court guidelines

The Managing Director of Supplyco and former City Police Commissioner, Jacob Thomas, IG, says: "Often, rallies violate High Court guidelines. Sadly, people are not moving court for contempt of court. During my tenure as Police Commissioner in 1997, a massive political rally was taken out in the city without affecting traffic movement. I issued written guidelines that the rally had to proceed in two rows, without affecting the flow of traffic," he says. He said Government land in places such as Kalamassery and Kakkanad can be used as venue for public meetings. Processions taken along some of the wide roads there will not affect traffic either.

The same view was echoed by a former Judge of the Kerala High Court. On condition of anonymity, he said, "While recognising the right of political parties and others to take out processions, care has to be taken to prevent infringement on the right of movement of the common man. During Pope John Paul II's visit to Kochi, the public meeting was held at a ground in Kalamassery and it did not affect daily life," he said. When the two rallies were taken out in the city, buses were diverted for well over four hours. People had no option but to walk down from Palarivattom or Edappally.

Shamsuddin, secretary of the Allottees Association of Vasanth Nagar, a housing colony of the Kerala State Housing Board located opposite the stadium, says the colony residents are the worst affected by programmes held in the stadium. "Unauthorised parking is a big problem for the residents."

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