Jisha Surya
First Published : 12 Nov 2010
PWD Minister M Vijayakumar has said that the decision to pedestrianise the Museum-Vellayambalam stretch will be revoked if it causes inconvenience to the public. The road will be closed to traffic from 5 am to 7 am from November 14 only on trial basis, he said. He was responding to the two opposing views on the decision published in Expresso on Thursday. Here, prominent personalities, including the Minister, react to the viewpoints. If you have an opinion or a suggestion on this issue, please e-mail us on trivandrum@expressbuzz.com. You can also write to us at The New Indian Express, Unnithan Lane, Sasthamangalam PO, Thiruvananthapuram-10
M Vijayakumar PWD Minister
The opposition against the pedestrian road comes out of total misunderstanding. The decision is made on a trial basis. It is temporary. If there is any difficulty, it will be revoked. The decision has been taken for a good purpose. It is a part of government policy of Total Physical Fitness Programme, focus of which is building a healthy generation. Now, only health conscious people are going for morning walks. By introducing a road for morning walkers, I hope a whole family will come for morning walks. Regarding the use of open spaces, it’s the Government which has opened Museum and Kanakakkunnu for public. We also plan to open stadiums, Harithavedi at Kowdiar and parts of Putharikandam for morning walkers. There are alternative roads from Vellayambalam and LMS. Also, there are no private institutions or residential areas along the Museum-Vellayambalam stretch. All these factors were taken into consideration while choosing this road. This is for the benefit of the people.
Anil Kumar Pandala
Vice-president, Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Company Limited (TRDCL)
I oppose the idea of an exclusive road for morning walkers. All roads developed under the City Road Improvement Project (CRIP), undertaken by the TRDCL, have given due importance to pedestrians. Under the project, path for pedestrians and motorists has been properly demarcated. Also, the footpaths offer facilities for a continuous and smooth walk. There are no ups and downs on the footpaths. Footpaths do not break at points where they meet with inner roads. These raised footpaths, in turn, will act as humps or speed breakers for the vehicles using the inner roads.
This facility too will ensure the safety of pedestrians. The footpaths are of 2-metre width and 12-cm height from road level. All these factors ensure protection of pedestrians in every way. There are exclusive pedestrian zones in foreign countries. But those areas lack continuous footpaths. Vellayambalam-Museum road is one of the major arterial roads and I do not think closure of it, at any time, would be practical. There are enough open spaces in Thiruvananthapuram, which could be effectively used for morning walks.
Sony Thomas
CEO, World Road Safety Partnership
It is not a surprise that there are opinions for and against it. I see it as a positive decision. Only some areas of concern must be addressed. Instead of complete closure, a part of the bidirectional road must be closed. This could be operated on a trial basis. This may be helpful for those travelling to Medical College from Sasthamangalam area. Closure of the Museum-Vellayambalam road is crucial since a lot of morning walkers are using Museum and Kanakakkunnu areas. Many foreign countries are providing such facilities for pedestrians, including morning walkers and shoppers. It think 5 am to 7 am is not a busy time as school buses and other vehicles will mostly start plying after that.
Sasthamangalam Gopan
Councillor of Sasthamangalam ward
I had opposed the move to close the road, during a meeting convened by Minister M Vijayakumar. I feel the decision is not practical as the Museum-Vellayambalam road is a major road. Lots of school children will be affected by this decision. The school buses start plying early in the morning.
Also, this decision will affect patients going to Medical College. Such closure will cause trouble in cases of emergency. Using alternative roads may not be a cause of concern for the rich. What about the middle class and poor? This decision is not in favour of the general public. A number of free spaces are available for morning walkers.
K Chandrika Mayor
I just received a copy of the report on the decision. I am looking into it. I can’t respond now because I don’t know the details.
jisha@expressbuzz.com
First Published : 12 Nov 2010
PWD Minister M Vijayakumar has said that the decision to pedestrianise the Museum-Vellayambalam stretch will be revoked if it causes inconvenience to the public. The road will be closed to traffic from 5 am to 7 am from November 14 only on trial basis, he said. He was responding to the two opposing views on the decision published in Expresso on Thursday. Here, prominent personalities, including the Minister, react to the viewpoints. If you have an opinion or a suggestion on this issue, please e-mail us on trivandrum@expressbuzz.com. You can also write to us at The New Indian Express, Unnithan Lane, Sasthamangalam PO, Thiruvananthapuram-10
M Vijayakumar PWD Minister
The opposition against the pedestrian road comes out of total misunderstanding. The decision is made on a trial basis. It is temporary. If there is any difficulty, it will be revoked. The decision has been taken for a good purpose. It is a part of government policy of Total Physical Fitness Programme, focus of which is building a healthy generation. Now, only health conscious people are going for morning walks. By introducing a road for morning walkers, I hope a whole family will come for morning walks. Regarding the use of open spaces, it’s the Government which has opened Museum and Kanakakkunnu for public. We also plan to open stadiums, Harithavedi at Kowdiar and parts of Putharikandam for morning walkers. There are alternative roads from Vellayambalam and LMS. Also, there are no private institutions or residential areas along the Museum-Vellayambalam stretch. All these factors were taken into consideration while choosing this road. This is for the benefit of the people.
Anil Kumar Pandala
Vice-president, Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Company Limited (TRDCL)
I oppose the idea of an exclusive road for morning walkers. All roads developed under the City Road Improvement Project (CRIP), undertaken by the TRDCL, have given due importance to pedestrians. Under the project, path for pedestrians and motorists has been properly demarcated. Also, the footpaths offer facilities for a continuous and smooth walk. There are no ups and downs on the footpaths. Footpaths do not break at points where they meet with inner roads. These raised footpaths, in turn, will act as humps or speed breakers for the vehicles using the inner roads.
This facility too will ensure the safety of pedestrians. The footpaths are of 2-metre width and 12-cm height from road level. All these factors ensure protection of pedestrians in every way. There are exclusive pedestrian zones in foreign countries. But those areas lack continuous footpaths. Vellayambalam-Museum road is one of the major arterial roads and I do not think closure of it, at any time, would be practical. There are enough open spaces in Thiruvananthapuram, which could be effectively used for morning walks.
Sony Thomas
CEO, World Road Safety Partnership
It is not a surprise that there are opinions for and against it. I see it as a positive decision. Only some areas of concern must be addressed. Instead of complete closure, a part of the bidirectional road must be closed. This could be operated on a trial basis. This may be helpful for those travelling to Medical College from Sasthamangalam area. Closure of the Museum-Vellayambalam road is crucial since a lot of morning walkers are using Museum and Kanakakkunnu areas. Many foreign countries are providing such facilities for pedestrians, including morning walkers and shoppers. It think 5 am to 7 am is not a busy time as school buses and other vehicles will mostly start plying after that.
Sasthamangalam Gopan
Councillor of Sasthamangalam ward
I had opposed the move to close the road, during a meeting convened by Minister M Vijayakumar. I feel the decision is not practical as the Museum-Vellayambalam road is a major road. Lots of school children will be affected by this decision. The school buses start plying early in the morning.
Also, this decision will affect patients going to Medical College. Such closure will cause trouble in cases of emergency. Using alternative roads may not be a cause of concern for the rich. What about the middle class and poor? This decision is not in favour of the general public. A number of free spaces are available for morning walkers.
K Chandrika Mayor
I just received a copy of the report on the decision. I am looking into it. I can’t respond now because I don’t know the details.
jisha@expressbuzz.com
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