The Hindu : Kerala News : Need for integrated approach stressed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 20, 2006
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Kerala

Kerala

Need for integrated approach stressed

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: An integrated transport authority for the Kochi region has been suggested for addressing the increasing traffic needs of the city. The proposal came up at the two-day national seminar on Metro Traffic System for Greater Cochin, organised by the Institution of Engineers (India) Cochin local centre in association with the Kochi Corporation.

An integrated approach covering road, rail and inland water transport (IWT) has also been suggested for evolving an efficient urban transport system for the city.

A strategic plan for the development of IWT system in the region should be prepared and a detailed inventory of the waterways and navigable canal system in and around Kochi need to be conducted, suggested a paper on development of Inland Water Ways and Inland Water Transport System in Greater Cochin. T. Elangovan, of NATPAC, presented the paper.

The study was required for "identifying the feasible routes, physical constraints for operating boat services, impediments for development, traffic potentials and financial requirements," the paper said.

The waterways and IWT system should be fully exploited for the promotion of passenger transport for domestic passengers, tourists and overseas visitors in Kochi. This will eventually "reduce traffic congestion on roads and reduce air pollution substantially," the paper said.

The paper suggested that priority be given for improving the waterways for maintaining port-hinterland connectivity through National Waterway and feeder canals and linking places not adequately served by road and rail transport. Integration of IWT mode with road and rail heads was also required for the optimum utilisation of the transport system and to reduce congestion on the road system, said Mr. Elangovan in the paper.

The Inland Water Transport is on the decline in Kochi due to the construction of bridges connecting islands on the western part of the city. The waterways in the region lack adequate draught for operation of higher capacity vessels due to inadequate maintenance of water bodies and lack of periodic dredging.

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