KOCHI: While the proposal for Vyttila Bus Terminal still remains on the cards and the marathon discussions for getting the land owned by the Agriculture Department continues, representatives of people in and around Kalamassery have come up with an alternative.
The representatives, including A M Yousuf MLA have submitted a proposal to the district administration for constructing the terminal at Kalamassery.
The accessibility from all parts of the state is being pointed out as the merit of Kalamassery for constructing the terminal.
Besides, it will help to bring down the traffic snarls in the city as the long distance buses can end its services at the proposed terminal at Kalamassery.
The Chenackalapatam, around 50 acres of marshy land near the NAD road located 800 metres from the HMT junction, is one of the proposed sites.
Another option suggested in the proposal is Moolepadam, which is located between the old highway and the new fourlane along the TVS-MHT stretch. “The project has been forwarded to the government. But one of the drawbacks of the project is that the land identified for the terminal belonged to the private parties,” said District Collector M Beena.
The land at Moolepadam which comes around six acres will not be adequate for the terminal. But the marshy land near the NAD road will be suitable as there is no need for eviction.
“As it is marshy land and no one resides there, the problem of eviction doesn’t arise,” said V K Prakashan, former standing committee member, Kalamassery Municipality.
“The widening of the approach road also may not create any problem as the surrounding properties are owned by various PSUs,” he said.
Though a bus terminal was mooted by the District Panchayat at the land owned by the Agriculture Department at Vyttila, the latter was not ready to part with their land.
