Corporation cleans up bus stop after social media post

Former MLA's social media post prompts Kozhikode Corporation to clean up defaced bus stop, sparking dialogue on public space preservation.

A social media post by former MLA A. Pradeep Kumar triggered a dialogue on the need to preserve the beauty of public spaces in Kozhikode on Sunday (May 11). The Kozhikode Corporation sprang into action without delay, and the public space in question was cleaned up by the end of Monday (May 12).

The bus stop at the Medical College junction in the city was a beautifully designed structure, created by noted architects and constructed at a cost of around ₹3 to ₹4 lakh nearly five years ago, when Mr. Pradeep was the MLA of Kozhikode North. The twin laterite stone structures with tiled roofs, reminiscent of Kerala’s traditional buildings, and beautiful paintings on both sides were once a source of civic pride. Local autorickshaw drivers had even vowed to protect it.

However, the former MLA’s social media post shocked many, as the accompanying pictures showed the bus stop defaced. Even the paintings were covered in posters. “This was surely done by some people who had no commitment to society. Even the plants in the planter boxes have been uprooted,” the post read.

‘De Earth’, the architectural firm that designed the structure, has promised to restore the bus stop to its former glory as part of their 21st anniversary celebrations, on the condition that the authorities ensure its protection going forward. “It is necessary that we learn to preserve our public spaces. We need the public to be proactive in these matters,” Mr. Pradeep said.