Kochi: Everybody loves metro. So it seems on a stroll around Kochi. City residents share their expectations about the marvel on pillars.
Journey without water-logging
T.B. Vinod, a tea shop owner at Edavanakkad, believes metro is the redemption the big city badly needs.
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“I was trapped in Kochi in the last rain when I took my wife and kids on an outing. Every place was water-logged. I hope metro will make a difference. After all, it flies over our head,” he says.
Time-saver
Small-time businessman T.N. Mohanan expects to save time on his daily commute related to work. “I have to travel to Perumbavoor to collect firewood. I can go up to Aluva on metro,” says the firewood vendor from Perumbadanna.
Business boom
Shibu Michael, who runs a modest textile shop at Thottakkattukara near Aluva, says metro may be good for business. “The Nedumbassery airport was supposed to boost business in the city but small-time businessmen like us were not benefited. We have high hopes about metro. They will have to bring in more facilities for parking and other things. That could help us,” he says.
It's the metro season
M.L. Sheejan, a hairdresser at Edavanakkad, says metro is all he hears about these days. “ The customers always talk about metro when they sit in my salon. I want to ride on it whenever I get time off,” he says.
Reading while riding?
Bibliophile V.S. Anil looks forward to metro to bringing back the reading habits of a bygone era. “Whenever we traveled on train, we could see someone immersed in a book or newspaper. Maybe we can see such people in Metro as well,” says the member of the Pappukkutty Memorial Library at Paravoor.
Lighted up
Bindu Anil, one among the league of workers behind the famed serial lamps in Angamaly, says she is happy to see the metro stations all lit up.
Airport connectivity?
Ashiq Siddique was waiting to go home from the airport when we caught up with him. “I just landed from Dubai. My folks are on the way to pick me but they are caught in a traffic block. The Metro people could have at least connected the service to the domestic terminal,” he says.
Don't leave out Fort Kochi
A.H. Nazeer is waiting for the day when he can ride the metro to his home in west Kochi. “Metro will be complete only when it links Fort Kochi and Mattancherry. After all you have to come here to see the biennale, beach and other attractions. We need more visitors to lift our business,” says the fish vendor.
Concession for nurses?
Jiksi George, a nurse at the LF Hospital at Angamaly, wonders if metro has enough first-aid facilities in place. “Do they have trained personnel to give CPR and other first aid to any passenger in distress? Metro staff should be trained in all that. I hope they plan some travel concessions for nurses,” she says.
Will reduce accidents
K.V. Varghese, a dairy farmer from Nedumbassery, is a bit peeved. “When we demand for the extension of metro to Nedumbassery airport, please don’t mistake us for being greedy. We are fed up of witnessing the accidents on the airport road. At least two accidents happen every day,” he says.
Space to showcase handloom work
Leena Kannan, a handloom worker from Chendamangalam, expects metro to showcase the famed handloom garments. “It takes a full day to weave a four-meter mundu. Chendamangalam handloom has been recognized with a geographic index. It would have been nice if we got a place in Metro station to display our products,” she says.
Buy good quality meat
Thongana Jose is a celebrity meat vendor. He had a cameo in ‘Angamaly Diaries.' “Let them extend metro to Angamaly so that the people from Ernakulam can buy good meat from us,” he says.
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