Kozhikode: The villagers of Chippilithode has a request to the transport authorities - a fair stage from the fourth hairpin as they are forced to pay the ticket charges up to Vythiri in Wayanad for a minimum distance. Instead of the minimum charge of Rs 7, they are giving Rs 13 in the absence of it. Fr Thomas Joseph, the parish priest of St. Mary’s church Chippilithode under the Thamarassery diocese, says all the ordinary buses coming from Kozhikode side stop services at Adivaram and return.
“The villagers of Puthuppadi and Kodanchery panchayats are left to suffer. People belonging to the Ward 1 of Kodanchery and Ward 5 of Puthuppady are depending on this bus stop. Already, there is a request for a stop and it would be better if the department allows fair stage at the fourth hairpin,” he said. He had taken up the matter with the Kozhikode transport authorities through Human Rights Protection Centre here and next to nothing happened.
He hopes the transport minister will consider it since the stop is on the National Highway 212 and he belongs to the district. However, the minister, A.K. Saseendran, said there were technical reasons for reviewing the fair stages for some particular places alone. “Allowing one fair stage at one particular point might affect the travellers from the opposite side. We will study this particular case in detail and take action,” he said.
