Added care in monsoon
The southwest monsoon has set in and it is learnt that the Kozhikode Corporation is taking up diseases-prevention efforts. The Health Department of the State government should also be in a state of preparedness. The department and the Corporation should take up coordinated efforts.
Apart from ensuring hygiene, efforts must be made to have adequate stock of drugs, including life-saving ones, in the government hospitals and community health centres. Treatment should not be delayed or disrupted by citing shortage of drugs.
It will be good if the Health Department deployed its staff for field-level surveillance for diseases in panchayats. The Health staff should guide people on preventing diseases and also on how to avail themselves of timely and good treatment.
C. Chandrasekharan
Kozhikode
Bus services
The launch of low-floor bus services in Kozhikode city has improved public transport. But, certain other issues need to be sorted out. People residing at Vellayil and its neighbouring areas have no city bus service.
Earlier, there were bus services No. 3 and No. 26 via Gandhi Road flyover. However, they were suspended following delay in timings due to closure of the 5th Railway gate.
Now that the Gandhi Road flyover has materialised, the transport authorities could consider intra-city circular bus services starting from Gandhi Road junction (beach) via Gandhi Road flyover and covering Kannur Road, Nadakkavu Cross Road, Salkara, Fathima, Mananchira–Muthalakulam, MCC Bank, Railway Station Link Road, Oyitty Road, Town Hall, SBI Junction, C.H. Flyover, Tagore Hall, Moonalingal, Corporation Office, Beach Hospital AIR.and Gandhi Road. Bus services on the route would be financially viable, as it connects areas with many government offices, hospitals, and educational institutions.
Sudheer Sekhar Palakandy
Kozhikode
Basic amenities
Authorities should pay more attention to making available adequate toilets facilities at the Kozhikode railway station. Recently, I travelled from Kannur by Parasuram Express to Kozhikode. I could not use the toilet during the journey ass the train was packed. In Kozhikode, I went to the northern end of platforms 3 and 4 to use the pay-and-use toilet. I found it locked. The only one available was on platform 1 and there was a serpentine queue outside. The Kozhikode station has seen a lot of improvement in recent times with the installation of escalators and elevators. But there should be more focus on such basic amenities.
M. Pradyu
Kannur
Readers may write to the City Editor, The Hindu, either by post at First Floor, Shaaz Building, Near Sarada Hospital, Kannur Road, Kozhikode- 673006 , or by e-mail to kozhikodehindu@ gmail.com
