Demand is rife for encroachment-free footpaths at Vyttila Junction as it’s a powerful activity for senior residents, girls, and kids to even stroll via the busy space.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
With motorists and pedestrians struggling to cross Vyttila, the most important junction in the State, civic officers, city planners, and residents’ associations have demanded the rightful due for the fast-developing space which additionally has a mobility hub, in the Kochi Corporation’s master plan.
This comes particularly in the wake of the six-lane flyover constructed right here by the PWD (NH wing) failing to decongest the junction, whereas on the identical time including to chaos on all 4 sides. A draft of the long-awaited master plan had been positioned earlier than the Corporation council in October, the ultimate of which is anticipated to be readied in mid-2023 after additional stakeholder consultations.
Wondering why little was going down on the floor stage to decongest Vyttila and roads resulting in the junction, Ajith Kumar, basic secretary of Ernakulam District Residents Associations’ Apex Council (EDRAAC) cited the pressing want for the inclusion of foot overbridges and a pedestrian underpass on the southern facet of the junction to forestall pedestrian deaths in accidents. “Civic officials must prevail upon the National Highways Authority of India [NHAI] which owned the NH bypass to realise this and also a wider underpass beneath the Vyttila railway overbridge. On its part, the PWD must widen Kaniampuzha Road which leads to the Vyttila Mobility Hub (VMH) and Eroor. Officials of VMH Society must be pulled up for the stalemate over the hub’s second phase development work since this and the junction’s development should go hand-in-hand,” he added.
He expressed dismay on the NHAI, PWD, and the Corporation doing little to prepared extensive and encroachment-free footpaths on the junction since it’s a herculean activity for aged folks, girls and kids to even stroll via the junction.
Sunita Dixon, the councillor representing Vyttila Division in the Kochi Corporation, mentioned the draft master plan was notably silent on augmenting infrastructure at Vyttila and close by areas. “Considerable damage has already been caused by departments working at cross purposes with each other. I hope at least the final master plan will have tangible projects to make optimal use of Subhash Bose Road that runs parallel to SA Road since its carriageway has become a parking area, while footpaths have been encroached upon,” she mentioned. “I registered my protest at the council mentioning all this. The assurance that zone-level meetings will be held to redress such issues is yet to materialise. The draft master plan has also not given rightful attention to developing Chilavannur Bund Road, whereas the emphasis is on developing the central business district comprising MG Road and Bannerjee Road,” Ms. Dixon added.
Meanwhile, Mayor M. Anilkumar mentioned the considerations can be addressed when the ultimate master plan is readied by mid-2023. The opinion of companies just like the NHAI and the PWD too might be heard earlier than finalising it.