Category Archives: National News
New Vice Chairman for Kerala IPL
Dilip Kumar, the native of Malappuram Kerala will be appointed as new vice chairman for Kerala’s IPL team and also the vice chairman of Rendezvous Sports It is assumed that he has bought about Rs 200 crore worth share. The official declaration will be announced later. At present Mr. Dilip is a resident of Dubai. He is a good Cricket and Golf player. He took part in the world amateur Golf championship for the year 2006 representing U.A.E. Mr. Dilip is a Civil Engineer by profession and currently the chairman of Heilbronn contracting limited which is having real estate and construction activities in different countries.
President Pratibha Patil visits Kerala
Pratibha Patil, the president of India will visit Bharananganam on August 12, 2010 for the Birth Centenary celebrations of St.Alphonsa. The Birth Centenary meeting will be held from 5.15 pm to 6 pm. Honorable President of India will deliver the inaugural address in this meeting. She will also inaugurate two humanitarian projects St. Alphonsa Hospice and St.Alphonsa Foundation. St. Alphonsa Hospice is a palliative care centre for 100 suffering brethren and St. Alphonsa Foundation is a medical assistance project for poor people affected with cancer.
Cochin Metro Rail
Cochin Metro Rail project will again come under the consideration of the Parliament. This topic will be introduced in the Parliament by the Ministry of Urban Development. The planning commission had already given the sanction to Cochin Metro Rail with certain conditions, in the meeting called by T.K.A Nair. Kerala government gave Central Government the proposal of sharing 50 percent investment.
Reallocation of Departments in Kerala Ministry
Surendran Pillai from Kerala Congress (Thomas) Group will be the new Minister for Sports and Youth affairs. Minister M. Vijaykumar, who is currently handling these departments, will become the Minister of Public Works Department. The coming National Games will be the greatest responsibility for the new Sports minister.
NH Widening Issue in Kerala – A Study Report
Summary of the NH widening issue
This is with regard to the request of an All-Party delegation from Kerala to reduce the width of National Highways in Kerala from the stipulated 45 metre to 30 metre. We feel that this decision, taken at an All-Party Meet on 20 th April, 2010, is disappointing and lacks farsightedness.
The width was reduced to 45 metre from the National Standard of 60 metre in 2007, based on a representation from the State Government, citing high population density and non-availability of land as the reasons.
Present 45/30 meter NH roads are already bursting at their seams and traffic blocks have become an everyday feature. With a high vehicle-to-population ratio in Kerala (1: 6 as compared to the national average of 1:25) the present National Highway road network is already experiencing traffic levels higher than the road capacity. Also the vehicle density of Kerala is 170/ Sq km as compared to the national average of 30/Sq km. Research shows that traffic volume, particularly on National Highways 17 and 47, is likely to exceed road capacity levels by nearly three times in a 10-year period and about six times in another 20 years (10-12% traffic growth rate).
The National Highways connect main cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur and Kozhikode to each other and to other towns and villages. It is also the centre point of trade, with approximately 80% of goods for consumption been transported through it. Kerala’s three airports as well as Cochin Port and other ports are connected by these National Highways. It is estimated that around 8.5 lakh persons use the highways every day. If the width is reduced to 30 metre, it will cause chaos and hamper the daily activities of countless common people and business community at large. An estimated Rs. 2700 crore per annum can be saved by way of savings in man hours, fuel, maintenance and wear and tear of vehicles by a well maintained highway system.
The number of accidents and fatalities is high, with an average 100 accidental deaths or grievous injuries happening everyday on Kerala roads. A study report shows that most of the people affected by accidents are the bread winners of families of lower income group. Total number of people affected by road accidents each year is about three times that of number of people affected by land acquisition in the present proposed NH improvement.
It may kindly be noted that in the case of collected BOT model only users pay. Otherwise, when the Govt. charges no user fee, more tax has to be from the general public to build the roads and thus people who are not using this facility also have to pay for it. This may please be compared with the model of electricity and water supply where Govt. collects the charges only from the users.
Finally, disaster management and national security concerns are better addressed by a proper highway system connecting coastal villages. Good connectivity and access will help the State respond faster in emergency situations. Evacuation and transportation of the masses will be possible only when there is proper connectivity between the district headquarters and villages to other parts of the State.
The allegation that land acquisition will affect 24 lakh persons is exaggerated and unfounded. Study reports show that only about 50000 people is actually affected. If the concerns of the people affected by land acquisition are resolved properly people will be ready to give their land for the proposed widening, which will be in the larger interest of the entire state.
This issue is indeed, one that needs immediate intervention of the Hon. Chief Minister and the Hon. Minister for Public Works.
IBM and Oracle to Technopark
International Computer giants IBM and Oracle are coming to Trivandrum Technopark. They are having plans of establishing a unit in the IT centre of Kerala. Both of these companies had discussions with Kerala IT department regarding the plans and possibilities. The arrival of these well reputed companies can create great effects in industrial sector of Kerala. Technopark of Trivandrum was established in late 90’s and now there are about 185 companies running there. About 30000 people are working in this IT Park. These 2 companies are capable of creating about 4000 job opportunities in Technopark. The interests shown by multinational companies in Trivandrum Technopark is an added advantage for the mission of making Kerala the fastest growing IT destination of the country.
3 Dream Rail Projects of Kerala
The experts are putting forward 3 projects that can bring great changes in the field of transportation in Kerala. These are High speed railway line, Goods corridor and Suburban train service. No issues and obstacles are witnessed for these projects. The chief obstacle before any development in Kerala is the issues related with the attachment of personal properties in the path of the proposed project. The confusion is because of the high population density and market value of properties in these areas.
These 3 new projects can be commissioned using the area near to the existing track or with the existing railway tracks itself. These projects are beneficial to both Goods as well as Passenger transportation. Planning experts are having great interests in these projects that can change the face of Kerala. The Kerala Government also shows good interest in High speed railway and Goods corridor project. Government need to understand the importance Suburban project and must organize the 3 projects as a single package.
