Kallingal: Fighting for a proper road

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A vast paddyfield was what separated Kallingal from Kulathur in Attipra ward, now within the Corporation limits. Locals had only to walk across the field to reach their destinations, whether that be the market, post office, veterinary hospital, Corporation zonal office or schools. But thanks to the third phase development of Technopark, the easy route has been closed to them. The only bus that negotiates the dilapidated roads here appears once in a blue moon and autorickshaws are a luxury. Stranded as if on an island, the local people here are gearing up for a mass protest.   The first thing any local here would say is that he is not against development. ‘’When we gave up our land to the government for Technopark expansion, we thought with the development of the place, we would get better facilities. But look at the roads here. They have not been repaired, the only bus that passes through the area is not regular. We can’t depend on the bus. What used to be a ten-minute walk across the field now takes one-and a-half km travel,’’ says Venugopal, Kallingal Residents’ Association member .   The Kallupalam, Arayikal, Kusamattom and SNM Vayanasala roads are the ones in a dilapidated state. A ‘Janakeeya Samithi’ which has been formed for the road development here has warned of a mass agitation if the situation remains the same.  ‘’When we submitted a complaint to the officials with the Kaniyapuram depot, from where the bus used to ply along this road, they said the buses had been re-routed as it was the Sabarimala season then. But months after the pilgrimage season ended, the bus still was not regular. From what we make out, the drivers do not want to negotiate this broken stretch,’’ says Thulaseedharan, a resident.    The local people had met the councillor and MLA and earned their support. But nothing has come of it till now. According to the Samithi leaders, during the time of land acquisition, they were promised a five-metre road. However, the Kallupalam-Arayikal, Arayikal-Mukalaikal roads were taken up for JICA project, which worsened the state of the roads.   They are demanding better roads in clear terms. A member of the Samithi said:  ‘’We need a six-metre road on the Kallupalam- Arayikal-Kusamattom-Vayanasala route. A proper bus route that will bring a bus here. Is that too much to ask for?’’