The construction of Metro Rail has been going on for more
than two years. It is expected that it will take another two or three years to
commission the first stage. The total investment is about Rs.6500 crores.
It is said that the metro rail in Koch will ensure easy,fast
mass transportation. It will propel Kochi as one of the major metro cities in
India. Metro rail will also help to ease the traffic congestion in the city.
The negative points about Kochi metro rail are many. Firstly,
what we need in Kochi urgently are road
over bridges to ease traffic congestion. Other cities which have gone for metro
rail have first constructed many road over bridges before embarking on the
construction of metro rail. Secondly, Kochi is facing numerous other problems
connected with garbage disposal, drinking water, drainage facilities, good roads
and mosquito menace. The huge amount being spent for constructing metro rail
could bave been used for these purposes. Thirdly, it is said that the metro rail
will take about ten years to pay for itself. Till then the government will have
to support metro rail with tax payers money. This could also mean more taxes
will be levied by the government to run the metro rail.
Till the construction is over Kochi will be facing severe
traffic jams since a large portion of the middle of the road is blocked for
construction. The dust pollution, the gas smell and the exhaust pollution have
become unbearable. This is going to affect the public health very seriously.
What do you think? Does Kochi need metro rail urgently or whether this huge amount of money could have been used for eliminating garbage problem, mosquito menace, improving drainage facilities and providing drinking water?
Metro is successful here in Delhi and the travel time is very less and also comfortable too. I hope same goes for Kochi too.
ReplyDeleteWell written and so interesting, the pictures were wonderful, a great post Joseph.
ReplyDeleteI think cleanliness is much more important than metro...
ReplyDeleteMoreover Namo had even initiated 'swach Bharat'..!!!
What a mess, hope these priorities can get sorted out somehow!
ReplyDeleteFascinating post, Joseph, thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIn India it has become a fetish amongst state governments to build metro rails without really assessing the state's priorities or funds in the exchequer. Metro project need huge funding but what does politicians care. This is an opportunity for them to siphon off funds and expand their personal empires and hoard ill gotten wealth in Swiss Banks.Who really worries about the state or the citizen.
ReplyDeleteHello Joseph: I am so glad you are blogging again. I have missed you. Your last two entries are so different...I prefer to linger over your beautiful pictures of a fascinating sky rather than the congestion and cost of this. It seems to be the same worldwide and we depend on a few politicians to make all the decisions!
ReplyDeleteI think the last choice would be best...
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog:)
It depends on the size of the city, if it's spread out geographically, then commuter rail makes sense, but not at the expense of other infrastructure needs like drinking water.
ReplyDeleteHere we are in the midst of a major expansion of our city's commuter rail. The end will be worth it, but for now there are some inconveniences.
Everything has pros and cons. I hope the pros outweigh the cons for you.
ReplyDeleteTraffic is really bad... It is so suffocating...
ReplyDeleteI used to live in Kochi. Thank God that it was before the metro work began :)
interesting...you would like to think that the rail line would eventually ease traffic, but during construction i am sure it is a mess...
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ReplyDeleteHello Anonymous, please write something relevant to the post. Best wishes
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