KOCHI: Roji M John, who restricted the LDF from retaining the Angamaly seat in the Assembly election, says Angamaly is the gateway to Kochi. According to him, all the future developments should be planned keeping in mind that Kochi is growing as a single city from Angamaly to Tripunithura.
The National Students Union of India president, who was born as son of Mullanmadakkal John at Ayiroor near Angamaly, is currently doing research at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on ‘Indian Diaspora in the US and Canada’.
Roji, who was the union chairman at Thevera SH College in 2001, will complete two years as the NSUI president this August. At 33, he is still a bachelor. “At present, I am not thinking about getting married,” he said. Speaking to ‘Express,’ Roji talked about his vision and priorities for Angamaly. Excerpts:
Q. How do you envisage the development of Angamaly in the future?
Angamaly is the gateway to Kochi. We have to consider the area from Angamaly to Tripunithura as a single city, and create a vision foreseeing this fact. In this context, Kochi Metro should be extended until Angamaly. Angamaly can be developed into a satellite town and an export zone.
Q. What are your priorities?
The Angamaly bypass and a new parallel bridge at Kalady are the immediate requirements, which are a need of Central Kerala as well. Considering the pilgrimage prospects of Kalady and Malayattoor, a new bridge should be built at Kalady. Potable water remains an issue in the Mookkannur, Karukutty, Parakkadavu and Ayyampuzha panchayats and various parts of the Angamaly municipality. Thus, completion of the Edamalayar project and renovation of Manjalithodu gain prominence. New enterprises should come up within Angamaly, creating new jobs. Public park, sports infrastructure and a crematorium are the other necessities. The LDF is ruling both the State and the municipality.
Q. Do you think support will be minimal?
The Angamaly bypass and the Kalady bridge remain unrealised due to minor issues. Now, everyone has realised that the projects are everyone’s need. With such consensus, I hope that something positive would happen. During the UDF rule, overall development of the State was given priority, and the government funded projects across the State, irrespective of the politics of the MLAs. I hope that the LDF Government would also follow suit. Once the election is over, politics should be set aside and requirements of every constituency should be given due consideration.
Q. Will you resign from your current post of NSUI president in order to focus more in Angamaly?
I will complete two years as president of the NSUI in August. Currently, I am pursuing PhD and want to complete the thesis during my tenure as MLA. As of now, I have not decided to resign from the current post, and my plan is to work both in New Delhi and Angamaly.