KOCHI: District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth has envisaged plans to turn Kochi into an ideal metro. Vertical expansion should be curbed. Drains, roads, sewerage, waterways and tourism should get the much-needed shoring up, he feels.Satellite City To curb vertical expansion, permits should be be given only to four to six-storey buildings, especially for residential ones. Office buildings can be given exemption but not beyond the limit of seven to eight floors. With this congestion, traffic chaos and the issues related to population concentration can be reduced. The city has no capacity for more vertical expansion. High rises should not be allowed above a certain limit in the 5-km periphery of the city. The city should develop beyond its borders. Metro city should be extended to the airport and Smart City. Five hundred to 1,000 acres of land about half or 1 km off the city can be developed into a satellite townships on the likes of Noida. Self-sustained, it should have all facilities, including potable water, waste management, school, shopping and hospital. Good roads should link the area to the city. Areas in Kothad and Kalamassery can be used for such projects.SewerageInstead of septic tanks in each house, sewerage pipes from each house can be linked to a main pipe and the system can be connected to a treatment plant. Space for the plant has been identified on Port Trust land. The two per cent solid waste can be turned into manure and 98 per cent water can be disinfected and used either for irrigation or let into the sea. A horticulture farm can also be set up nearby.Solid WasteA new plant with the capacity to treat 150 lorries of waste should replace the low capacity tanker in Brahmapuram. This can be done within 90 days.Drainage The drains that crisscross the city are clogged at the outlets and at different spots as they are at different levels. A level mapping should be done and a levelling mechanism put in place to ensure the smooth flow of water into the sea. As tidal variations range up to 60cm, sea water can me made to flow at least 2 km on the land. Tidal exchange in canals and drains will help eradicate mosquitoes and prevent growth of water hyacinths, as they cannot survive in saline.RoadsBeing a coastal region, the sub-soil has to be tested and refurbished for a stronger base. Roads should be concretised in waterlogged areas. BM, BT and plastic roads should replace the present ones to guarantee at least five-year life. To prevent traffic congestion, all link roads leading to main roads should be developed. It can be implemented within three months after consulting the Kerala Highway Research Institute and other agencies.Potable waterEnough resources are available in the Periyar and Muvattupuzha river. An agency can be entrusted with filtering and generating potable water from both the rivers which will be more than enough to quench the city’s thirst. Around Rs 7 crore is being spent on supplying potable water in tanker lorries.WaterwayA waterway from Marine Drive to the Kochi Airport through Kadamprayar should be developed to ease traffic.PlanetariumA planetarium is being planned for which 5 acres of land is required. The city lacks in entertainment zones, especially for children. More activity-oriented programmes for children will be opened at Children's Park. TourismKochi should be made the Gateway of Kerala. Thrust should be on destination tourism. Packages to Ezhattumukham, Kalady, Tripunithura Hill Palace should be designed to experience the essence of Kerala.
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