KOCHI: After tree saplings, bollards-- short posts used to prevent vehicles from entering an area -- set up along footpaths by the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) as part of its junction improvement programme, have become the targets of miscreants.
"Miscreants are indulging in destruction of public property due to poor civic sense. At least half a dozen bollards have been left broken or uprooted at various points in Edapally alone. This mainly happens when two-wheel riders trespass into walkways to find way access," said a metro spokesperson.
The metro agency has launched an awareness campaign on the social media platform to raise civic sense of residents. It has uploaded posts in Facebook and Twitter handles in which its mascot, a cute turquoise coloured baby elephant, can be seen questioning such behavior in a funny manner.
The KMRL has set up footpaths in the Kaloor-Edapally stretch on which the bollards have been erected to prevent vehicles from using the walkways meant only for pedestrians.
Meanwhile, the traffic police said it would look into the issue of unauthorised parking and trespassing of footpaths. "We'll take strict action against those indulging in such practice. The police will attempt to find out the culprits and book them if a complaint is lodged," said C.L. Sudheer, station house officer, (traffic East).
An unidentified person damaged 35 tree saplings planted along the footpath from Changampuzha to Edapally last month. The cops are yet to make an arrest despite the miscreant getting caught in CCTV visuals.
