For years now, darkness marked the stretch on the national highway passing through Maradu Municipality.
After having knocked on the doors of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in futility for long, the municipality has eventually taken the initiative to light up the more than 4-km stretch passing through its limits.
“The dark alley between Kannadikkadu and Anthippilly canal near the fisheries college junction has emerged as a dangerous spot vulnerable to accidents because of the lack of lights. Since our plea to the NHAI to erect street lights fell on deaf ears, the municipal council decided to do that using Rs. 93 lakh from our own funds,” said Municipal Chairman T.K. Devarajan.
The only assistance the municipality received from the NHAI was in the form of a consent letter to erect lights. Work has already started on the project as part of which 130 posts have been laid at a distance of 20 metres from each other.
By next month, 260 eco-friendly tubes of 24 watts each, two on each post, will light up this busy stretch. However, that would be of little relief to motorists as they would have still more dark stretches beyond the limits of the municipality to deal with.
Kudumbasree cabs
Cabs driven by women have assumed greater significance with incidents of harassment against women travelling alone on the rise.
Taking the cue, Kudumbasree Travels, which operates six cabs in the district, is looking at bolstering its fleet once the dust settles over the internal elections next month.
Existing cabs are mostly attached to companies like Infopark ensuring a steady flow of income for the beneficiaries.
Kudumbasree already has 118 pending applications for operating cabs, which are now likely to be vetted only post-elections. Possibilities of inducting higher class cars than the existing ones are also being explored.
Multiple factors including interest in operating the service along with skill and experience in driving will be considered in the selection of beneficiaries.
Besides, potential beneficiaries should have received the requisite badge for operating services at least a year before.
With She Taxis, technology-enabled 24/7 women-only taxi service, introduced by the Department of Social Justice under its Gender Park doing well, Kudumbasree Travels has its job cut out to win over clients.
There are now 15 pink coloured She Taxis in the district operated using higher class cars than that of Kudumbasree Travels.
