Citizen impact: Man’s complaint forces officials to remove steel pipe seats from bus waiting sheds, steel pipe seatings, Kodungallur, citizen impact, M.B. Rajesh, bus waiting sheds,

Thilakan's response was direct and impactful, as he submitted a letter detailing the issue to Local Self-Government Minister M.B. Rajesh

Alappuzha: The situation in Kodungallur took a turn when local resident C.S. Thilakan, aged 78, raised concerns about uncomfortable steel pipe seating at bus waiting areas. Following his complaint, the government issued an order to remove these pipe seats, which many, particularly elderly, found difficult to use.

Thilakan's response was direct and impactful, as he submitted a letter detailing the issue to Local Self-Government Minister M.B. Rajesh. His advocacy led to a significant result: the Principal Secretary of Local Self-Government directed the removal of the pipe seating in waiting areas, a decision prompted by Thilakan's intervention.

As the secretary of the Kodungallur Taluk Applicants and Consumers Forum, Thilakan sent his complaint in the name of the forum. Subsequently, instructions were issued to replace the steel pipes in all local self-governing bodies. Thilakan observed these problematic seating arrangements not only in Kodungallur but also in nearby areas, including Tripunithura, where he noted that passengers struggled to sit comfortably.

Many of these seating installations were funded by local MPs and MLAs. Thilakan called for an end to construction practices that inconvenience the public, specifically requesting Kodungallur MLA V.R. Sunil Kumar to refrain from such installations in the future. Some local representatives have explained that the steel pipe seating was intended to deter misuse of waiting areas, although the discomfort caused to passengers has raised concerns.

Local government officials are now considering solutions to address the issue, involving the very MPs and MLAs who funded the installations.