It was a well-scripted drama that went awry in execution.
The occasion was the much-publicised Young Entrepreneurs Summit (YES) held in Kochi last week. In his presidential address, IT Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty put forth a suggestion as food for thought for Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who was set to deliver his inaugural address next.
“Why can’t we make entrepreneurship part of engineering degree? I am putting forward this proposal for the consideration of the Chief Minister.” Mr. Kunhalikutty said.
Mr. Chandy who spoke next played his part and announced the decision to make entrepreneurship part of B. Tech degree, seemingly indulging his cabinet colleague.
But it came clear that it was all part of a build-up as the proposal had already found its way through to the Chief Minister’s written speech, which was readied even before the IT minister had made that proposal dramatically.
Taking the underwater route
The Fort Kochi passenger ferry tragedy that claimed the lives of 11 people on August 26 has prompted people linked to maritime business in the city to call for a Vypeen-Fort Kochi underwater tunnel after the model of similar transit facilities in Europe.
“Can’t we think of a permanent solution to such disasters?” asks Jose Paul, former acting chairman of JN Port, Mumbai. Such underground tunnels and dual carriage motor ways can be seen in London under the Thames and in the Netherlands near the Rotterdam port under the Maas and ships pass through both, he said.
It is technically feasible to build an underwater tunnel between Vypeen and Fort Kochi, says J. Karthikeyan, former chief engineer of Cochin Port Trust.
However, he finds the money part of it quite a task. It will require about Rs. 1,000 crore and finding that may be difficult, he said.
However, a former chairman of Cochin Port Trust feels that a financial model may be worked out in such a way that the cost is not put solely on the governments, the users and with appropriate viability-gap funding system.
An underwater tunnel between Vypeen and Fort Kochi merits consideration, says S. Kartha, president of Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cochin Port Trust.
If it is realised, it will be a boost to tourism as well, says a shipping industry official, who did not want to be named. People could even walk across to Vypeen from Fort Kochi since the distance is only about a kilometre, he said.
