THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The upcoming Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority (TRIDA) shopping complex at Erumakuzhy will be a draconian waste of last lot of land available for de-congesting Chalai and East Fort, says, local social workers. Around eight acres of land was taken up for constructing new mall and auditorium before two years. The earlier proposals sought an annexe of East Fort bus stand, Chalai Lorry Park and a satellite fire station here. However, the TRIDA construction seeks to utilise the entire space leaving no scope for any of these, say critics.
Apart from shopping complex, the auditorium can accommodate over 2500 people and will only add up to the traffic woes here, they say. “Annually several pedestrians get run over at East Fort due to congestion there. Stop over for some buses at Erumakuzhy could have averted many accidents. Also, there is no satellite fire station in Fort-Chalai areas despite flash fires. A bit of space from TRIDA land would have helped us all,” said SKP Ramesh, local councilor.
Adding to the traffic woes, several lorries have to be parked on the roadside between Attakulangara and Killipalam. As per estimates, not less than 200 lorries arrive at Chalai market and the existing lorry parks are inadequate to cater to their needs. The Erumakuzhy, once a swamp filled with buffaloes had off late turned into a garbage dump yard. Once it was reclaimed, TRIDA came up with the project to create infrastructure along the lines of Saphalyam complex here. Sources said that TRIDA might offer parking space for interstate private luxury buses close to the shopping complex.
