The New Indian Express 22.02.2010
Mockery of a master plan
The civic body’s budget for 2009-2010 was a conglomeration of earlier budgets that envisaged construction of flyovers, railway overbridges, multilevel parking system, transportation facilities, beautification of crematoria etc. A close look at last year’s budget shows a list of projects which have never seen light.
As the civic body gears up to present its next budget by mid March, all the unfinished projects stand as a testimony to the lethargic and irresponsible attitude of the Corporation. It has utterly failed to take any initiative in implementing the development projects.
For example, the master plan for the city, proposed in 2003, finds a place in all the budgets presented by the Corporation.
The draft of the master plan was proposed with a focus on transport. It was envisaged to develop a mass public transport system that would include an inland water transport system and bus lanes.
Another objective of the master plan was to identify the growth trends and increase the ‘livability’ of the city by considering its various dimensions with an attempt to retain all its characteristics.
“The master plan was planned to develop a mass public transport system, promote inland water transport, a commuting railway system and dedicated bus lanes. But so far only a draft proposal has been presented in the Council. When the opposition asked about the master plan the authorities said that it was in its final stage of preparation,” said opposition leader A B Sabu.
The Corporation initially entrusted the master plan preparation with an agency which failed to complete the work within the stipulated time.
Later a senior town planner and the Country Planning Department coordinated the work. It is learnt that only 50 percent of the work has been completed so far.
In the last one year the authorities took no initiative to complete it. Kochiites won’t be surprised if the master plan finds a place amidst another bundle of promises in the ensuing budget of the Corporation.
