Date:12/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/12/stories/2007091250780200.htm

Kerala

Roads a dampener

Malaysian Minister S. Sami Vellu.

The dilapidated condition of roads in the State is on the lips of everyone these days. Dato’ Seri S. Samy Vellu, Minister for Works, Malaysia, who was in the city in connection with the signing of an MoU for the Rs. 2,500-crore satellite city at Kinalur, near Balussery, on Monday, did not conceal his experience of the bumpy ride from Kochi to Kozhikode in a car the previous night.

Speaking at the function, Mr. Samy Vellu said that he and the delegation from Malaysia took almost five hours to reach Kozhikode from the commercial capital of the State. “Oh, it was horrible,” he said, evoking laughter from the audience and those on the dais, including Minister for Industries Elamaram Karim, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, T. Balakrishan and Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Managing Director P.H. Kurian.

Kochi and Kozhikode have good ports. They should also have better road connectivity. In future, the travelling time between the two cities should be one hour and 45 minutes, Mr. Samy Vellu said.

Biju Govind