Vallarpadam: Parking for trucks is no more a worry

KOCHI: The much-awaited Rs 4-crore container truck parking yard at Vallarpadam, opposite to the International Container Transhipment Terminal, is ready for inauguration. It is expected to end the chaotic and dangerous parking of big trucks along the Container Terminal Road. The park spread over four acres of land the Cochin Port Trust leased out to Bharat Petroleum Corporation can accommodate nearly 200 units - 100 containers of 20-feet and 98 of 40-feet long at a time.

The rates fixed for parking is Rs 150 for small trucks and Rs 200 for big ones for 24 hours. The rates will be less for short-time parking. A fuel outlet, a toilet complex and amenities like a food court and rest rooms are part of the project proposal submitted, the works on which will begin once the funds are ready, said BPCL officials. Parking of containers along roadsides has been a major issue ever since the transhipment terminal opened in 2011. Random parking of trucks caused several motor accidents along the Vallarpadam – Kalamassery stretch on Container Road. 

Though the truck operators have been demanding a permanent parking lot, the proposal remained a non-starter for long.  It witnessed a series of protests, prompting the effective intervention of Mohammed Y. Safirulla, the district collector. The collector after visiting the facility on Saturday said more facilities would come up in the next phase.  BPCL general manager George Thomas, assistant manager (sales) Dony George Varghese and assistant manager (construction) P. Sajith were also present.