Kozhikode district administration braces for national games

KOZHIKODE: Parking of innumerable number of vehicles that will flow to Kozhikode during the National Games is sure to become a major cause of concern for the district administration and the city traffic police. The city, already reeling under shortage of parking slots is likely to become a nightmare for sports lovers who are eagerly waiting to watch football, volley ball and other events being held in the city.
The games organizing committee members expect more people would come to the place to watch events especially football . The heavy flow of vehicles to games venues, apart from the usual flow, will surely affect vehicular movement in the city if the motorists start parking the vehicles on the road sides.
The Football stadia- Corporation stadium and Medical College stadium have the capacity to accommodate over 40,000 viewers and the indoor stadium has the capacity to accommodate 20,000 viewers. So proper arrangements have to be made to accommodate vehicles too, said K J Mathai, president of district sports council and organizing committee member.
Special parking places will have to be arranged for vehicles transporting players and officials to and fro
The events V K Krishna Menon Indoor Stadium, Corporation Stadium, Medical college stadium and Kozhikode beach will be hosting the events in Kozhikode from January 31 to February 13, 2015.
“City traffic police and the public works department have already been directed to prepare a draft proposal on available places which could be developed to parking slots. Administration also has plans to make temporary parking places during the National Games,” said district collector C A Latha. The issue will be discussed during the meeting of the transport subcommittee, she added.
The PWD and police are also directed to remove all illegally erected and obstructive hoardings ahead of the games so that the visitors get a clear view of the roads and prevent accidents.
Meanwhile, the district administration has submitted a proposal to the state government to sanction Rs 23 crore for repairing Pavamani Road, Mavoor Road- Thondayad stretch, Stadium-Chinthavalappu stretch, Bank Road Junction to Beach Road, P T Usha Road, Customs Road, Nadakkavu Cross Road and Medical College- Karanthur Road. Besides, another proposal for installing traffic signals estimated at Rs 33 lakh will be submitted to the National Games committee, said the district collector.
“We have some more time for preparations and all issues would be addressed before the commencement of the games,” said the collector.