KOCHI: And it’s a self-goal!
Hosting FIFA U-17 is turning out to be nothing short of scoring a self-goal for Kochi, given the state of the roads, the footpaths (or lack of it in many places) and protruding cables. And, it’s a race against time for the organisers. With less than two weeks to go before the first match between Brazil and Spain takes place at Jawaharlal International Stadium on October 7, it looks like a lost cause.
Heavy traffic and a huge crowd will be regular phenomena throughout the U-17 World Cup phase. But cracked slabs and potholes will make the football experience a miserable one for the fans, who will be flying into the city from all over the state and also the country. Traffic snarls are the other nightmare that awaits them in the city.
“The problem is an alarming one. Even though the match dates are nearing, the repair works are moving at a snail’s pace. It is the common man who will pay for it,” said Krishnakumar, a local resident of Kaloor, where the venue, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is located. He said a large number of pedestrians like him will be put under duress during the match days.
However, even though college students and young office goers are excited about the FIFA World Cup matches being held in their hometown, the pothole-filled roads dull the excitement.“Instead of showcasing the city at its beautiful best, it seems the authorities are hell-bent on presenting it in a shoddy way,” the youngsters said. They also criticised the authorities concerned for their lethargic attitude. They even pointed out that if the Public Works Department (PWD) had completed the works prior to the monsoon, the current situation could have been avoided.
The PWD was allotted Rs 17.70 crore for reconstruction and Minister G Sudhakaran had said there would be no shortage of funds. Sudhakaran had assured that by September 30 all the damaged roads and footpaths would be cleared. But the Kadvanthara-Kaloor and Palarivattom-Kakkanad stretch present a different picture. Many roads in the suburbs and the central part of the city are also in urgent need of repair.
T J Vinod, Deputy Mayor of Cochin Corporation said the works are in the final stage and will be completed on time. Vinod said the Corporation along with the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) and the PWD is taking concrete steps to get the city ready for the big event. “Potholes and footpaths from MG Road to Kaloor have been almost completely repaired. Rest of the work will be over soon,” he added.
GCDA chairman, C N Mohanan said pending works will be finished by the end of this month. “FIFA U-17 World Cup match starts from October 7 and we are confident that the remaining repair works will be completed by the first week of October,” he said.
A PM Muhammad Hanish, the nodal officer of the local organising committee for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, said the work got interrupted due to heavy monsoon. “The authorities are going full-steam ahead to get things done within the limited period of time.” He agreed that the pothole-filled roads will make a bad impression on the foreign fans who will be coming to the city.
A similar opinion was raised by a few football lovers in the city. “The event, which is a feather in Kochi’s cap, will boost Kerala’s tourism. But poor infrastructure and congested roads will put a damper,” said Arjun M, a degree student, and a hardcore football fan.
Ernakulam District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) secretary S Vijaykumar said Kochi is the most visited place in Kerala and instructions have been given to authorities concerned to complete the beautification work before the arrival of foreign tourists. The stadium and other grounds have been renovated but work in many areas are still under progress.
According to Hanish, FIFA has not paid a single penny for the construction works. He said the entire amount comes from the state government’s kitty.Any delay in completing the works will prove to be expensive for not only for Kochi and its residents but also for the entire state.