Kerala   

Metro rail must

Metro rail must

Kochi is smaller than Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Chandigarh and such cities. So why should it go in for a metro railway? Why should we spend a huge amount on the project? Such questions can be expected from many citizens.

Consider the population of Kochi after 10 years. Do not also forget the increase in number of automobiles. In 2015, if you have to reach Ernakulam South from Alwaye by road, it will take two or more hours during peak periods. By that time, noise pollution and air pollution will be beyond your imagination.

There is no scope for further widening of roads. The Government has job-oriented development plans, such as container terminal, information technology parks, Smart City, fashion city and other allied industries. How can the city administration tackle this growing traffic demand?

The metro rail is the only feasible solution. In the long run, a majority of people will prefer it, as the journey will be more comfortable, safe, pollution-free and fast. Hence, the metro railway can run with a good margin of profit and, thereby, find capital for further future expansion. If you happen to travel on Delhi metro rail, you will be convinced about the above facts and will not try to point a finger at the metro rail proposal for Kochi. Immediate implementation and timely completion of the metro rail project are inevitable for the welfare of the permanent and floating population of Kochi, implementing the development plans and solving the unemployment problem.

D.P. Panicker,

Kochi.

Take up work on railway track

It is heartening to note that the eastern entry of Ernakulam south railway station has been opened. However, the happiness proves short-lived on seeing the platform. In spite of the promises made by Nitish Kumar, the then Minister of Railways, to Balachandran, former Chairman of the Greater Cochin Development Authority, that a track and platform will be laid to accommodate mostly south-bound trains, provided necessary land is acquired and handed over to Railways, no track has been laid and the platform spans only half the required length. Will the Railways complete the above work without fail?

K.N.R. Nair,

Kochi.

Change jurisdiction

Our apartment building, Galaxy Noorain, home to 55 families, on Punathilpadam Road, off P.J. Antony Road, is the starting point for Padivattom Kara. Though the building is just about a kilometre from Palarivattom Police Station, it comes under the limits of Kalamassery Police Station, which is far off.

P.J. Antony Road, Punathilpadam Road, other streets and bylanes are empty by 10 p.m. In this circumstance, we face extreme hardship in even getting a first information report registered if some untoward incident happens at night. It was due to night-time anti-social activities that a police station was set up at Palarivattom, under the Circle Inspector of Police, Ernakulam North, a couple of years ago.

This unreasonable division of jurisdiction limits of Palarivattom and Kalamassery police stations has to be rectified by the Kerala Police and the Home Department at the earliest. The apartment area should be brought under the jurisdiction of Palarivattom Police Station.

Sasisekhar Menon,

Ernakulam.

Do not withdraw services

For more than a year, two agencies of the State Government have been operating ferry boat services between mainland Ernakulam and the western areas of Kochi, namely Mattancherry and Fort Cochin. The agencies are the Water Transport Department and the Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC). To the public, especially the common man, these ferry services are useful, comfortable and cheap, and above all a consolation in these hard days of high cost of living.

Unfortunately, there was an attempt recently to disrupt the ferry service operated by the KSINC from December 1. The move was dropped following the intervention of Minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju and the Paschima Kochi Passengers' Association.

Considering the good interest of passengers, the two agencies should not withdraw their services under any circumstance.

H. Ravikumar Pai,

Kochi.

Clear waste

Clearance of waste is not being carried out properly in Thripunithura. The old bins kept in the area between Petta bridge and S.N. Junction have become useless, and, therefore, waste has accumulated in some areas, causing foul smell. Immediate action is required either to replace the bins and arrangements made to clear the waste.

Davis Vithayathil,

Thripunithura.

Kochi.

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