A safety audit, aimed at making the city safe for women, has identified a few unsafe spots in the city including Kisan Colony, Bus Stand, Railway Station and Karikkamuri.
The study was jointly organised by Anweshi, Kozhikode, Samanwayam, Ernakulam, and MAYA, Thrissur.
The other unsafe spots identified in the study are the walkway from KSRTC stand to Railway Station, area near Amrita Hospital, Ponekkara, near Railway Cross and Manassery-Chellanam road after 7 p.m.
The findings of the two safety audits conducted in the city were presented at a workshop attended by representatives of police and civic authorities on Thursday. While one audit was held in the vicinity of the KSRTC bus stand, the other was held at Thoppumpady junction. The audits were done during both morning and night hours, the report said.
The audit highlighted the issue of improper lighting of streets in Thoppumpady area. The bus shelters lacked seating facility and were inaccessible to aged or pregnant women. There are no public toilets in Thoppumpady, the survey said.
There is no sufficient lighting in pedestrian walkways. No signs could be seen in the area and the footpaths at many places were very narrow with obstructions and large gaps. Shops and street vendors encroached on footpaths, it said.
The audit at KSRTC stand also highlighted several safety issues in the area. It was found that the ladies’ waiting room inside the bus station was not being used by women. The unclean room was stinking and many of the plastic chairs inside the room were broken. The toilet was also unclean and the room had no lock, it said.
The proposals put forward by the study will be considered while forming the projects under the social welfare component of the People’s Plan Project, said Mayor Tony Chammany, who presided over the meeting.
Thrissur Mayor I.P. Paul, Kochi Deputy Mayor B. Bhadra, Thrissur Deputy Mayor Subi Babu and K. Padmakumar, Ernakulam Range IG of Police, were among those who attended.