Proposed site for Metro Rail worries locals

ALUVA: As the Union government is all set to sanction the Kochi Metro Rail Project, the people living around Aluva Bypass are worried as the proposed site for the terminal and car park of the Metro Rail project may cause difficulties for people living and using that area.Kochi Metro Rail Project managers decided to construct the terminal and car park area at the Aluva Bypass where NH flyover and the parallel roads of NH converge. The bypass junction is the narrowest bottle neck in the town and is usually seen blocked by the vehicles from the south and northern areas. Long queues of vehicles can be seen on both sides of the Bypass Junction, waiting for the traffic signal to go green. With the introduction of terminal and the car park area, huge number of people in vehicles are expected to arrive to avail metro train facility.The road leading to the proposed site for the car parking from the southern side would turn into a hub of congestion, as the service road is too narrow and causes obstruction in the traffic flow. The vehicles from northern areas will be forced to remain idle for a long time for traffic clearance. The private buses coming from the bus stand through the Market Road, passing through the narrow Thynothil area, from the opposite direction will create chaos and confusion. The authorities who have earmarked more than one acre of land for car parking in this area, have not anticipated the future difficulties in controlling the traffic. The proposed site is one of the valued properties as the land costs about `35 lakh to `45 lakh. The Metro Rail project will have to spend huge amount as compensation to acquire the land. With the construction of the terminal at the present proposed site, many commercial buildings including Municipal Bus Stand Clock Tower is likely to be demolished, incurring huge loss to the trading community. Meanwhile, the original proposal to construct the terminal near Aluva Railway Goods Shed has been ignored for unknown reasons. The terminal near the Goods Shed area would have solved the issue of increasing traffic congestion at Bypass junction. The Metro Rail authorities could find a more suitable location for the terminal and car park area, causing less inconvenience to the public.Also, the NH flyover in Aluva was constructed without proper study and has landed into a major controversy as it has failed to serve its purpose of reducing traffic congestion. The NH authorities found it extremely difficult to propose a better plan for smooth traffic, especially for the vehicles entering and leaving the town. The construction of the terminal and parking area at the present proposed site will have the same result, the public alleged.