KOCHI: It is a state where nobody is taking responsibility and being held accountable with the result that having decent footpaths is of least importance.
While pedestrians in Kochi have been demanding even and continuous footpaths at least along main roads, nobody in the several councils that held power under the UDF and LDF, have addressed the issue.
Kochi Corporation Public Works Standing Committee Chairman Soumini Jain says that currently no special area has been allotted for footpaths in Kochi.
“The drainages covered with concrete slabs are generally used as footpaths since the public roads are narrow. These areas have been elevated to a certain height for the smooth movement of vehicles and are maintained to a great extent,” she says.
Soumini Jain said that around 75 km of road area is being maintained under the Kochi Corporation. “There are no special funds allotted for the footpaths as such in the Corporation. A part of the fund allotted for the roads is kept aside for the maintenance of footpaths,” she said.
“We have received a Division fund of Rs 50 lakh and Plan fund of Rs 10 lakh. The Plan fund has been used for covering drains with slabs and is presently used as a pedestrian walkway. Apart from this, a portion of the Corporation-owned fund is also used for maintenance works. A total of 98 per cent of the fund allotted for 2014-15 has already been utilized.The funds allotted are not sufficient to meet the entire maintenance works in the city. The durability of the walkways cannot be ensured since heavy vehicles are being parked on these walkways. As a result, there needs to be frequent maintenance which requires higher funding,” Soumini said, adding last year the allotted Division Fund was Rs 65 lakh and Plan Fund of Rs 10 lakh.
According to Corporation Town Planning Standing Committee Chairman K J Sohan, the PWD is the main culprit for not making the roads in the city pedestrian-friendly.
“Major roads are under them but they have not cared to make pedestrian-friendly footpaths on the roadside. The prime importance on roads is for pedestrians but sadly in our culture, that is missing,” said Sohan.
He said that Park Avenue, MG Road and Shabnugham Road were manned by the PWD while Banerjee Road and Sahodaran Ayyappan Road were under Kochi Corporation. The Kaloor-Kadavanthra road was under GCDA.
“The Corporation had spent ADB funds on Banerjee Road to make the footpath. But now since the Metro Rail works are going on, in many parts, it has been mauled. It will be made perfect along with the Metro Rail project on Banerjee Road and Sahodaran Ayyappan Road,” said Sohan.
He said that the gradient of footpaths should facilitate easy and comfortable walking for the elderly and handicapped. “But sadly our footpaths are broken at several points and never help the pedestrians,” he said adding 40 per cent of the people dying in road accidents were pedestrians.
Sohan said that the PWD had shown utter callousness in constructing a perfect footpath at Park Avenue where a lot of public institutions function.
“This is where the General Hospital, Taluk office, Village office, SC/ST office, St Teresa’s College, Law College, Lottery office, Police Commissionerate, Women’s police station, Boat Jetty etc function. Yet the place does not have a perfect footpath,” he said.
He said that the State and Central Government should strictly instruct that perfect footpaths be maintained. “The Indian Road Congress guidelines are there. Good footpaths are an indicator of developed cities. Kochi should now root for such footpaths,” he said.
However, washing his hands off the issue, PWD executive engineer K. F. Jayaraj said there was no special fund allotted for the upkeep of walkways apart from funds allotted for the overall maintenance of roads.
“As part of pre-monsoon repair fund, '1 crore has been sanctioned and tendered. This fund will be utilized without much delay. No new construction works are planned and we are focusing on maintenance using the fund. It is also expected that an additional sum of Rs 50,000 will be allotted to the Assistance Engineers for the works,” he said.
He claimed that almost all PWD roads were well maintained along with walkways. “The funds are mainly used to close the slabs, replace the broken slabs which are presently used by the pedestrians. The roads which come under the Metro Rail Project are to be maintained by DMRC and the works will be carried out by them,” he said.
