Dt. Panchayat refuses to fund traffic study

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 25. A Rs. 36-lakh study being carried out by the Delhi-based Consulting Engineering Services (CES) for a project to improve the traffic and transportation in the city has come in for severe criticisms from the District Panchayat and a local MLA.

The Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Study for Thiruvananthapuram Urban Area had been entrusted by the Transport Department and Union Urban Development Ministry to the private agency last year. The study was started in November and is scheduled to be completed this year-end.

Even as the CES presented the "Rapid Action Plan", detailing the short-term measures to be implemented, to the Transport Minister, Mr. C.K. Nanu, at the Guest House here today, the District Panchayat president, Mr. V. Gangadharan Nadar, termed the study as old wine in new bottle.

Mr. Nadar urged the Minister to study the earlier reports submitted by the CES. He said the District Panchayat would not release funds for the study. The chairperson of the Nedumangad Municipality, Prof. Nabeesa Ummal, who was present, also echoed the view.

The Congress(I) legislator, Mr. B. Vijayakumar, who arrived after the document was handed over to the Minister by the CES Executive Director, Mr. B.C. Roy, wanted to know how the study could focus on transportation as the demand raised by the MLAs was for a metro rail project for the city. Four suburban municipalities had agreed to share the cost of the study and TRIDA had been appointed as the implementing agency.

The local MLAs were not informed of the decision to scrap the study on the rail project, he said, adding that in his capacity as executive member of TRIDA, he would oppose the release of funds for the transportation study.

"We do not want a study by the CES for identifying congested junction, construction of subways and removal of electric posts. The NATPAC has enough expertise in this matter and the four municipalities can take up the construction. We want the metro railway," the MLA said.

The Congress(I) legislator pointed out that he had presented a memorandum citing the relevant facts to the Chief Minister in February and the same had been forwarded to the Transport Minister. "When the Government owes Rs. 700 crores to PWD contractors, why is Rs. 7.60 lakhs being given in advance for the study," he asked.

The Minister said the terms of reference of the study for Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram would be examined at the earliest. "Further steps would be taken only after a detailed discussion with the Speaker, the legislators and others," he said.

Rapid Action Plan

Intersection improvements, pedestrian subways, construction of footpaths, improvement of intersection lighting and traffic management measures have been suggested in the Rapid Action Plan (RAP).

Twelve junctions have been identified for immediate improvement. Bakery, Pulimoodu, Vazhuthacaud and Vellayamabalam junctions have been given top priority. Pedestrian subways have been identified at the Medical College, Statue, VJT Hall, Thampanoor, East Fort, Neramankara, Cotton Hill and the General Hospital.

Development of footpaths on priority along the Cotton Hill Road and the General Hospital-Vanchiyoor Road have been suggested considering the safety of school children.

A comprehensive development plan comprising construction of pedestrian pathways, redevelopment and relocation of bus terminals, redevelopment of the Gandhi Park, pedestrian corridor connecting Thampanoor and East Fort, pedestrian over bridge across railway lines from the Station Road to the Power House Road and rerouting of buses entering the terminal has been proposed for the East Fort-Thampanoor area. Construction of a grade-separator for thorough traffic and multi-storey parking, bus terminal and commercial complex have been proposed.

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