The Hindu : Kerala News : Reader's Mail

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Wednesday, Aug 02, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

Reader's Mail

Plan with perspective

It is good to see that the Corporation and the city planners have identified the major problems of the city like waste treatment, narrow roads, water, parking etc.

Being a resident of the city I was proud to be a Kochiite, till I saw other cities. We stand nowhere compared to the other metros. We do not need to compare ourselves with the metros, but at least some standard has to be maintained, because Kochi is a major city in Kerala.

The city has lost its charm due to the increase in number of people living here. This means huge traffic that is seen on the city roads these days. Increase in number of people should automatically and immediately lead to good roads and other infrastructure facilities. Here, the Corporation has failed miserably over the years. If funds are not forthcoming from the Government, private partnership should be welcomed in development activities.

We need good broad roads, where smooth traffic is possible. Just take the case of the stretch between Kacheripady and Deshabhimani. From morning 9 to 12, one cannot think of going to Ernakulam, due to traffic jams. The North overbridge is so narrow and steep. I understand that it is difficult to widen the roads here, but at least when you are constructing new roads and bridges why is that we don't build broad ones (four lane).

Take the case of the bridges that are coming up at Edapally and Ponnurunni. Take the case of Kathrikadavu overbridge, it is so narrow.

We have to think of the future and not just the present. Flyovers are necessary at Edapally, Vyttila, North Atlantis etc. What is the case with Sahodaran Ayyappan Road? No one has to say anything about it.

Now even if it is small and narrow, keep it clean. Dumping of waste is a curse to this city.

Anand R.V.

Edapally

Shortage of textbooks

The NCERT has claimed that there is no shortage of textbooks (Std IX and similar classes where new textbooks have been introduced this year) and that it has supplied sufficient number of books to all distributors.

But the ground reality, at least in Kerala, is just the opposite. The Central schools started their academic year on April 1 itself. Parents have been visiting bookstalls daily in search of textbooks without any result.

The booksellers give the stock reply "enquire after a week". They put all the blame on the NCERT. There is nobody to take up the issue at the proper level.

Those responsible for changing the textbooks without sufficient preparation should be held responsible. Hope the authorities will look into the matter.

M.K. Gopinathan

Panampilly Nagar

Flyover sought at Kalamassery

Kalamassery will soon become a prominent junction on NH 47 with the commissioning of the Kalamassery-Vallarpadam port connectivity. This part of the national highway is already experiencing heavy traffic.

Taking into consideration the volume of container movement in the future, it is imperative that a well-planned junction is formed at Kalamassery along with the completion of the new highway link to Vallarpadam.

To ensure uninterrupted traffic along NH 47, a flyover should be built at this junction.

The new four-lane road will give easier access to the city through the Goshree bridges and, therefore, will attract substantial passenger traffic. Separate lanes for container movement at Kalamassery junction will enable smooth vehicle movement.

The alignment of the proposed Metro Rail will have to be shifted eastwards at Kalamassery without interfering with the junction. The NHAI should be told to finalise a suitable junction design.

This is in view of the fact that the NHAI had already awarded the contract for six-laning the Edappalli-Mannuthy reach, on BOT basis, as part of the Salem-Kochi span of the North-South Corridor Project.

Antony Joseph Maliekal,

Ernakulam

Readers may sent their letters to the address The Hindu , N.H. Bypass, P.O. Vytilla, Kochi - 682 019. email: letters.kochi@

thehindu.co.in

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