The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Islanders want more buses to Kochi

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Thursday, Jun 12, 2008
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Kerala - Kochi

Islanders want more buses to Kochi

Staff Reporter

Protest held at the district collectorate
Islanders still to reap the benefits of bridges

KOCHI: The fourth anniversary of the inauguration of the three Goshree bridges was marked by hundreds of people sitting in dharna before Government offices on Wednesday protesting against the failure of the district administration to allow buses from islands neighbouring Ernakulam to enter the city.

A group of people from Vypeen, Mulavukadu and the neighbouring areas, led by Goshree Action Council, Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM), Goshree Manushyavakasa Samrakshana Samithy and Vypeen Two-Wheelers’ Association, held a ‘sathyagraha’ outside the district collectorate demanding that the regional transport office should allow buses coming from the islands to enter the city at the earliest.

A group of people led by Nationalist Congress Party and carrying replicas of buses marched to the Kanayannur taluk office demanding that the State Fisheries Minister S. Sarma should intervene to ensure that the promise made to the people of the islands was honoured.

Majnu Komath, leader of Goshree Action Council and who led a 12-year struggle to get the Goshree bridges built, inaugurated the sit-in protest outside the collectorate.

He said the islanders were still to reap the full benefits of the Goshree bridges.

The protest was held to draw the attention of the Regional Transport Office to the plight of the islanders who still have to alight at the High Court Junction for their onward journey.

NCP leader C.M. Devassy who led the march to the Kanayannur taluk office said the islanders should get the full benefits of the Goshree bridges.

The protestors also demanded that the board of RTO that is scheduled to meet on June 21 should take a positive decision on allowing buses from the islands to enter the city.

The NCP leader warned that unless a favourable decision was taken that protest action would be launched. Currently there are a few Kerala Road Transport Corporation buses which ply between the islands and Cherthala through the city. But they are not sufficient enough to meet the rush hour demand by passengers from the islands.

Currently there are 114 buses which have permit to ply up to the High Court Junction. Mr. Devassy said at least a small number of buses from the islands should be allowed to enter the city.

He claimed that 15 buses were initially permitted in 2005 to enter the city.

However, for various reasons the permits were withdrawn. Paul J. Mampilly, Convenor of Goshree Manushyavakasa Samrakshana Samithy, Rajgopal D. Komath of Vypeen Two Wheelers’ Association, President of Kerala Latin Catholic Association in the Varappuzha Archdiocese Victor Marakkassery, general secretary of KCYM, Varappuzha Archdiocese T.M. Antony and Antony Arakkal of Kerala Congress addressed the protest meeting.

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