Good news for morning walkers of Kaloor! Come October and the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium here is bound to become more ‘morning-walker friendly’!
The Greater Cochin Development Authority, in a bid to ensure safe walking for morning walkers, is planning a blanket ban on all vehicles from 5 am to 8 am within and near the premises of the stadium. This measure will come into effect from October 1. According to GCDA chairman N Venugopal, the decision comes in the wake of complaints received by morning walkers who regularly arrive at the stadium in the early hours.
“It has come to our notice that a large number of vehicles are plying in the route posing huge threat to the joggers. Since the route is not meant for public transport, it is only practical to curtail the number of vehicle users in the area,” Venugopal said.
He added that the move is also intended to encourage more people to take up walking in the future. “Our immediate message is that walking is mandatory to make one stay fit. We are requesting the public to feel free to use the stadium premises for their morning exercises,” he said.
To ensure that no vehicles ply through the route, all the entrances leading to the stadium will be blocked from 5 am to 8 am. Venugopal also said that policemen will be deputed on duty to scrutinise the ban.
While hailing the measures taken by the GCDA authorities, various morning walkers have suggested that the ban should be extended to the evening hours as well. “A lot of youngsters bring their bikes in the evening and zoom it past the walkers. It would be more beneficial if the ban was implemented in the morning,” said Geethu S, a daily walker.
Meanwhile, there are complaints that the stadium premises are also becoming a place for a rising number of anti-social activities.
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