Connectivity

Now in this era of “New economy “ how can we build up our economy without a agricultural or Industrial base?

The new economy has developed around the all important factor of connectivity .Connectivity of people ,places and minds . The tremendous advancements in connectivity that has occurred in the new millennium has made everyone aware of its importance .So information, communication technologies and entertainment industry is growing at maximum rate in the new millennium . A vibrant trade and tourism sector is also the result of new age connectivity . Connectivity can be physical or electronic ( through the internet and modern telecommunication facilities) .

Physical connectivity - Kerala is one of the most connected states in the country . However we have built new paths since the existing ones are either overloaded or is antiquated and cannot help us to move forward .To achieve the status of a developed state we still need truly state-of-the-art connectivity in all sectors . Rail ,Road , Water and Air . We also have two yet unutilized ways of establishing the physical connectivity – one is the West coast Canal system and other is Coastal shipping .
Railways : Doubling of railways throughout the state must be given urgent priority .We should have a completely electrified double line from Kasargod to Kanyakumari functional by 2010. We will also need a third line to act as a freight corridor when the Vizhinjam and Vallarpadam ports are completed . Railways must become the prime movers of freight . The “Roll on – Roll off” system of truck transportation must be implemented initially with the major Ports and then across the entire state.
Roads : A “Coastal High way “ will complement the “Ports and Harbours” chain (will be described below ) .This is not equivalent to the Express High way under consideration by Government. This should be a four lane path with additional half lanes either side for scooters, autorikshaws etc with a still separate small channel for cyclists . ( cycling should be encouraged since it will help contain the overall fuel cost of the country) This will boost the connectivity of the entire coastal belt . Now in sectors where the NH-47 is close to the coast it can be developed in the above mentioned model . This highway should also carry a new optical fibre backbone which will provide true broadband connectivity . A new backbone of telecommunication and power cables can also be set up (sent through sealed ground tunnels) .
People/organizations should be encouraged to set up “ Village resource Centres” along the highway . Shopping complexes and other trading centres will spring up once such a highway is built. Once the ports are in operation industries catering to it will be setting themselves along this highway . In Trivandrum the Kazhakuttam-kovalam bypass can be transformed into the said model . This must be extended to Kanyakumari to join with the North-South Corridor.This will form a most important corridor linking the Vizhinjam port and the IT corridor which is also proposed in the same highway.
Air transport : This will become one of the main modes of “people transport” in coming years. With completion of Kannur airport it will be far more efficient to reach from one part of the state to other by the air route .Economy services will come up or should be created (the proposed Kerala airlines can do much in this way). This will obviate the need for an Express high way . As mentioned above an express highway just to carry people will be unviable (and undesirable considering the increasing fuel costs) and freight carriage can be more efficiently and economically done through the railways and the West coast canal. The four airports will complement the chain of ports and harbours .
Water : Inland water transport utilizing the West coast canal system has already been mentioned in Honorable Presidents 10 point programme. Development of Coastal shipping must be given equal importance . This will help boost the trade with all the west coast states – Bulk quantities of cargo can be brought from Gujarat, Bombay and Mangalore . The Coastal shipping also will get a boost once Vizhinjam and Vallarpadam ports are completed . Actually Vizhinjam will necessitate the initiation of feeder services since it will be handling the motherships .