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New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Promises unfulfilled, flooded KSRTC bus station cries for crucial makeover
KOCHI: Another monsoon season is here and it's the same old story at the Ernakulam KSRTC bus station. Located in the heart of the burgeoning city, the dilapidated bus station has remained susceptible to waterlogging for over a decade. While the demolition of the five-decade-old building that houses the station and the construction of a new terminal have hit a roadblock, the repeated promises of the KSRTC authorities to address the issue mostly remain on paper. The last of the assurances was delivered nearly two months back, when the authorities said the work to raise the floor-level of the building and the station premises and the setting up of new drains would be completed before the onset of monsoon. In fact, Ernakulam MLA T J Vinod allotted Rs 50 lakh for the purpose from the legislative assembly constituency asset development fund. The work has kicked off for sure, but is progressing at a tardy pace. 'The activities have been hampered by intermittent rain. The good thing is that the scope of the project has broadened with BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd) contributing Rs 99 lakh. A tripartite agreement will soon be signed between BPCL, KSRTC and the PWD to implement the Rs 1.5-crore project,' the MLA told TNIE. Swanky terminal a distant dream The plan to set up a new swanky bus terminal -- modelled after the Vyttila Mobility Hub -- on 2.9 acres in Karikkamury has suffered a setback. The project was initially mooted to be implemented with the Rs 12-crore fund promised by Cochin Smart Mission Ltd (CSML). But the KSRTC backed out following a difference over the terms and conditions that included toll for the entry of KSRTC buses into the proposed terminal. 'Despite giving land, they wanted to levy a toll on our buses. That can't be justified,' a senior KSRTC official said. Earlier, the plan was to construct a bus terminal that can be accessed by both private and KSRTC buses. The project was in the doldrums and the CSML term ended in March. While the agency's term has been extended by another year, a fresh nod from the ministry of housing and urban affairs needs to be obtained to avail funding.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Opposition councillors in Kochi corporation to intensify protests against move to pave tiles on Metro medians
Kochi: Opposition councillors in the Kochi corporation are set to intensify their protest against KMRL's move to pave tiles on the road medians along the Metro line. The councillors have decided to raise the issue at the next council meeting. According to the councillors, KMRL has been constantly violating the conditions set while receiving approval from the govt. "During the inception of construction, KMRL promised that the Metro would be as eco-friendly as possible. Hundreds of trees were felled for the construction. Then, KMRL's version was that they would plant more saplings than the number of trees cut down. They stated in the detailed project report (DPR) that measures would be taken to make Kochi greener. But nothing concrete has happened in this regard," said M G Aristotle, secretary, UDF parliamentary party in the corporation. "Now, they have decided to pave tiles on the medians. It will add to the waterlogging in the city. Moreover, the plan will destroy thousands of flowering plants now being grown on the median. If KMRL does not back out from the project, we will intensify the strike," he added. On Monday, the councillors planted some flowering plants on the median as a mark of protest against the move to pave tiles. T J Vinod, MLA, planted the first sapling as part of the protest.
