Corporation plans service roads along canals

KOCHI: To make the cleaning of the canals more effective, the Kochi Corporation is planning to construct service roads along the major canals in the city.The decision in this regard was taken after the experts' suggestion to the civic body that the lack of service roads is the major hindrance in carrying out cleaning works on canals and drains.Without the service roads, it will not be easy for the JCB and other vehicles to get access to the canals for cleaning purpose."The corporation will soon envisage a total station survey for collecting the basic information for initiating the project. After the survey, the report will be presented at the Corporation Council for approval," said an official at the corporation.Nearly 25 canals, including ThevaraPerandoor, Pashnithode, Rameswaram, Kalvathy and Pandarachal, pass through the city. These canals, which once played a major role in Kochi's transport sector, are now filled with waste materials and weeds and as a result the flow of water in a majority of them have ebbed."Once the service roads are constructed, the cleaning works will be carried out easily using modern cleaning equipment," the official said.Water Metro ProjectThe construction of service roads will also be an added advantage for the smooth implementation of the 'Water Metro' project. "The Water Metro project is proposed to make the major canals in the city navigable. The construction of service roads will help in setting up new boat jetties along the side of these canals," the official said.Land AcquisitionThe major hurdle in front of the civic body for implementing the service road project will be land acquisition."Finding funds for the land acquisition and rehabilitation will be the biggest challenge. However, considering the need for constructing the service roads, the civic body is planning to go ahead with the project," the official said.