No relief in sight for islander's travel woes

There is no end in sight to the travel woes of Goshoree island dwellers. The completion of the much awaited bridges connecting Vypeen and Goshree Islands with the main-land three years ago has not fulfilled expectations.

Though there are more than 100 buses plying from Goshree islands to the city, they are forced to end services at the High Court Junction. The authorities say that if the buses are allowed to enter the city limits, it would create traffic congestion.

"there is no restriction on thousands of vehicles, including private tourist buses and trucks, that arrive in the city on a daily basis. The restriction is only on buses that ply from the Goshree/Vypeen islands, Apart from the time lost, people end up spending more on bus fares on account of the restriction," said Paul G. Mambilly, general covenor of the Goshree Human Rights Protection Council.

"At least 25 buses plying on this route should be allowed to enter the city limits. This is our only request to the authorities", he said. He also said that the council members had met Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan the other day to press their demands.

"The CM gave a patient bearing to our grievances and assured us that the matter would be taken up with the officials including the District Collector", he said.

When contacted, RTO M.N. Prabhakaras said that the current rules don't permit buses from Goshree/Vypeen to enter the city limits." A total of 145 buses conduct 445trips on the Paravur -High Court route on a daily basis. As per government notification more than 750 city permits can't be allowed within a city population of five lakh. That's why buses on the Paravur route are being restricted "he said.

Explaining that it is virtually impossible to allow buses from this route into the city, he said that even the High Court had endorsed this stance when the issue was brought before it.

Total chaos will prevail if the buses from this route are allowed from this route are allowed to ply in the city with out the necessary infrastructure. The officials are not opposed to extending the buses to the city, "he said.