KOCHI: The long-felt need for the development of Kalamassery is set to be materialised next month end with work on the bus stand on the land allotted by KINFRA near the Ernakulam Government Medical College fast nearing completion. “Last-minute works are in progress, and we hope to open the bus stand by March end. We have also submitted a memorandum to the regional transport officer requesting him to sanction more buses on the route. We also want all the buses running on the Seaport-Airport Road to come to the bus stand, and district collector should take steps for this,” Kalamassery municipal chairperson Jessy Peter told DC on Saturday.
Despite many institutions situated there, bus connectivity has always been a problem in this part of Kalamassery with very few buses plying to Kangarappady touching there. “The long felt need of patients of Ernakulam Government Medical College and that of the newly-opened Kochi Cancer Research Centre and their relatives to have more KSRTC and private buses through the route should be met. Otherwise, the purpose of having these institutions itself will be defeated,” said Dr N.K. Sanil Kumar who is among those who lead the Justice VR Krishna Iyer Movement that is spearheading a movement for better public health facilities in the district.
The Kalamassery Municipality is undertaking the bus stand project on a 70 cent plot at an outlay of Rs 3.25 crore. A shopping complex along with the bus stand is being readied, and works have been allotted to Kochi-based SITCO Associates. KITCO is the consultants. Fifteen buses will be able to park at the bus stand which will have separate toilet facilities, and a waiting shed for men and women. More buses through the route will offer more connectivity to HMT, Startup Village, NUALS, XIME, the Kochi Cancer Research Centre, Naval Armament Depot, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Government Polytechnic, Women’s Polytechnic, Government ITI, Women’s ITI, Food Craft Institute, Productivity Council and St Paul’s College apart from the Ernakulam Government Medical College Hospital and Nursing College.
