The Hindu : Kerala News : Vypeen islanders' grouse

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 07, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

Vypeen islanders' grouse

Sweet and bitter were the flavours marking the second anniversary of the inauguration of the Goshree bridges here on Monday.

The long-standing demand of the islanders of having a bus route into the city remains unfulfilled, making the journey into the city a rather expensive affair. All buses from the island terminate at the High Court junction.

The demand is to have bus routes extended up to Kakkanad, Tripunithura, Kalamassery and other areas.

The authorities have denied the routes on the argument that these extra buses will add to the already burgeoning vehicles on the city roads.

The islanders ask why they should be penalised for the vehicle rush. If one is strict about implementing rules, the traffic into the city can be regulated in many ways.

V.T. Cheekutty, who led the struggle for bridge connectivity between Vypeen and Ernakulam, inaugurated the celebrations by cutting the cake at High Court junction.

This was followed by the distribution of bitter gourd juice as a symbolic protest against the authorities not allowing buses from the islands to the city.

The function, organised by Greater Kochi Island Development Samithy, was attended by T.R. Sankar Das, vice chairman of the samithi and M.K. Purushothaman MLA, who was the chief guest.

STAFF REPORTER

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