Kerala - Kochi
Maradu residents prepare charter of demands

Staff Reporter

Interaction with candidates today

KOCHI: The Confederation of Maradu Residents' Associations (COMRA) will organise a platform to bring together the candidates contesting in Palluruthy Assembly constituency. The meeting will be held on Monday evening on Mankayil School premises. The COMRA is the apex body of nine residents' associations in Maradu. The programme aims to inform the candidates about the basic issues faced by the residents of Maradu and obtain their response on these issues.

S. Balakrishnan, confederation general convener, said the event would help the voters to make a decision on the candidates based on their response to the basic problems. The apex body has drafted an 18-point questionnaire for the candidates.

They point out that Kundannur, and Maradu in general, suffers from a great degree of uncertainty in matters relating to land, as the area forms the intersection of two National Highways, NH-47 and NH-49. The alignment of NH-49 and the related acquisition of land are still undecided. Another major issue is the traffic congestion at Kundannur Junction and along the NH-Bypass. Though a flyover had been proposed at Kundannur Junction to solve the traffic problem, no further step was taken in that direction.

Another major issue is the introduction of KRSTC bus services to West Kochi and Wellingdon Island along NH-49.

The commuters from Maradu now have to take the circuitous route via M.G. Road. Poor tarring in the Kundannur-Thevara bridge, which causes accidents is another issue.

Other demands include the construction of Kundannur-Nettoor Bridge and Kundannur-Chilavannur Bridge. The citizens also demand clear-cut steps to solve the water-logging in this area as well as steps to end the low-voltage crisis.

Drafting a master plan for the comprehensive development of this area is also demanded of the candidates.

The meet-the-candidates will begin at 6 p.m. on Monday.
(The Hindu - 17/04/06)