: Widening Goshree-Mamangalam Road that lies parallel to congested Banerjee Road will throw open a new arterial road in the city, while also considerably reducing commuting time from western end of the city to NH 47, participants at a discussion on the need for speedy development of the road corridor said.
It was organised by NGOs Greater Cochin Development Watch and Goshree-Mamangalam Road Action Council.
A new four-lane road will also end residents’ wait for a new road since their lands were frozen 30 years ago for widening what is now a narrow corridor. “The number of buildings that have to be demolished will be minimal since new buildings have not come up on “frozen land.” As a result, most people are willing to surrender their land, said Felix J Pulloden, chairman of the action council. The meeting was inaugurated by literary critic M K Sanu. He sought proper rehabilitation for people who surrender their land for a new arterial road. GCDA Chairman N Venugopal assured all help for efforts to widen the road.
Former civil servant P C Cyriac called upon Kochi Corporation to take the lead role in developing the crucial corridor. Former judges of High Court K Sukumaran and P K Shamsuddin, veteran trade union leader M M Lawrence and chairman of Kochi Corporation’s Town Planning standing committee K.J. Sohan too spoke.
