Vyttila Mobility Hub redevelopment causes severe inconvenience to commuters

Time of India

4 days ago

Kochi: The redevelopment work at Vyttila Mobility Hub, which has been ongoing since June, is making daily commuting a nightmare for hundreds who travel by bus, autorickshaw, Metro and Water Metro.
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Broken carriageways, leaking roofs and a dearth of basic amenities make the situation dire, be it rain or shine.
It has been months since the interlock tiles were removed, leaving the surface uneven with quarry waste used as a temporary fill. The area becomes waterlogged when it rains and turns dusty when it shines.
The hub, which serves both KSRTC and private buses, is also a critical transit point for passengers heading to Metro and Water Metro stations.
However, they are forced to navigate through dust, mud, filth and cracked surfaces. Leaking roofs and unhygienic toilets make travel an ordeal for all.
Cochin Smart Mission Ltd is in charge of the Rs 5-crore renovation work which includes changing tiles, renovating toilets and improving seats. However, an alleged delay in payment to the contractor by Vyttila Mobility Hub Society (VMHS) is often disrupting the work.
"I can't believe that a major bus terminal in Kochi is functioning in such a pathetic state," said Hariharan from Thrissur, who reached the hub by a KSRTC bus on Wednesday afternoon.
"Even during the construction, authorities could have arranged temporary facilities such as toilets. Roads are in terrible shape. It is extremely difficult for passengers to walk from the bus stand to the Metro station or even up to the autorickshaw stand," he said.
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A shopkeeper, who doesn't want to be named, said: "People are made to inhale dust. Standing here for half an hour can cause coughing and breathing problems," he said.
"In addition to dust and gutters, lack of water supply is also causing major inconvenience to the public," said T N Prathapan of Vyttila Action Council. He said that despite filing complaints with the corporation regarding the unhygienic conditions of the toilets — which could lead to health issues — no significant action has been taken.
Though officials did carry out an inspection, no follow-up measure was taken, he said.
"There's also a serious safety concern due to faulty electrical wiring near pillars 11 and 12," he said. Another issue is the waste being dumped on the hub premises.
Sunita Dixon, corporation councillor from the area, said that while the civic body attempted to control the dust by sprinkling water on the carriageway on sunny days, it proved futile.
"If the hub society fails to complete the work soon, I'll be forced to launch a protest," she said.
Dixon also alleged that the delay in payment to the contractor may further lag the works, for months.
VMHS MD K Gopalakrishnan said the work was expected to get over in a month. He promised that the contractor was asked to minimise inconvenience to the public.
"It is natural for people to face some difficulties during large-scale development projects in such a busy area. Complaining about it seems unreasonable. We believe the public will understand, as these works aim to provide improved facilities," he said.