|
Metro and suburban rail to ease traffic congestion
City to get more overbridges, feeder waterways
VS flags off KSINC barge
----------------------------http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/21/stories/2007112160850300.htm----------------------------------------------------
KOCHI: The government will soon come out with a comprehensive plan to tide over acute traffic congestion in Kochi, using a combination of metro-rail and suburban-train services, Chief Minister V.S. Achutanandan has said.
He was speaking after inaugurating the National Waterway III at Maradu here on Tuesday.
The metro-rail project for Kochi had lost momentum after the special officer appointed for the project refused to assume office for fear that he would not be given a free hand in taking decisions. “New overbridges too have been planned,” Mr. Achutanandan said.
“Faced with phenomenal increase in vehicular traffic, Kochi was fast running out of options to ensure smooth flow of traffic. Traffic snarls in Kochi would become worse, once the Smart City and the Vallarpadam container transhipment terminal were commissioned,” he said.
Development of waterways would come in handy for businessmen and others to transport bulk cargo, taking the strain off congested roads. Tour operators played a vital role in promoting waterways. The proposed linkage of the international airport and the seaport in Kochi through waterways would be the first of its kind in the country. Central funds were awaited for the project, which would also become a tourist attraction, Mr. Achutanandan said.
The government had set apart Rs.7.20 crore for the renovation of feeder canals in Malabar, Kochi, Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram, which were once used to transport goods and people. These canals, 11 of which are in Kochi, would be linked to NW III.
Later, the Chief Minister flagged off a barge owned by the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation. He also went on a tour of the backwaters, from Maradu to the High Court boat jetty. He discussed the prospects of furthering the development of waterways in the State for promoting tourism and other activities, with Ministers and officials who accompanied him. The issues included the possibilities to develop the waterways in Kodungalloor, Kalady and Nedumbassery.
Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran; Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran; and Fisheries Minister S. Sarma spoke.
Among those present were Director of Inland Waterways Authority of India S Dandapat; Advisor to the State government for development of inland waterways and ports and the chairman of KSINC B.R. Menon; MD of the Corporation K.V. R. Varier; and Vice-Admiral S K Damle, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command.
|