Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is facing some civic issues just outside its premises, like vandalism and illegal parking. KMRL is not happy with this and has given the task of calling out the miscreants to its yet-to-be-named mascot - a turquoise coloured elephant.
KMRL has released a series of tweets and Facebook posts, in which the mascot appears to be angry, reprimanding those who are destroying public properties in the city. “I will tie the person who knocked these (bollards) down," reads one of the posts in Malayalam, where the elephant mascot is seen ready to crack the whip on those who knocked down the bollards on various footpaths.
The other messages are for those who destroy trees planted on the sidewalks and to those who nonchalantly ride two-wheelers through pedestrian walks. It also takes a dig at political parties that ruin the public properties by sticking posters on the walls across the city. “I had just asked to keep things clean, did I ask them to untidy places?” the mascot asks.
Kochi Metro’s mascot hopes to create awareness through social media on how to use and protect public properties responsibly.
Speaking to TNM about this social media drive, KMRL spokesperson said that there was a need for awareness among public on the need to protect public properties.
“KMRL has beautified those parts of the city through which Kochi Metro is passing. We built footpaths, barricades and planted trees along the way. Instead of protecting these properties and spaces, many have destroyed these beautifications,” said the KMRL official.
“There should be a unified effort from the part of public to protect and keep our city beautiful. So KMRL has taken an initiative to create that awareness among people,” the official said.
The posts by KMRL also throw light on some of the important civic issues that people are causing. For example, a recent post by KMRL shows photos of garbage being piled up near the pillars of Kochi Metro. In fact, it was only early this year that the city witnessed multiple bouts of fire breakouts at the Brahmapuram waste treatment plant. Fire broke out in the heaps of plastic waste dumped at the plant, located on the outskirts of the city, sending columns of smoke into the air and causing health problems to the residents in the immediate neighbourhoods.
നമ്മുടെ അഭിമാനമാണ് കൊച്ചി.അതിന്റെ ശോഭ കെടുത്തുന്ന പ്രവർത്തികൾ ചിലരിൽ നിന്നെങ്കിലും ഉണ്ടാവുന്നത് അപലപനീയമാണ്.നടപ്പാതകളിലും,ബസ് സ്റ്റോപ്പുകളിലും മറ്റും മാലിന്യം വലിച്ചെറിഞ്ഞതിന്റെ ദൃശ്യങ്ങളാണ് ഇതോടൊപ്പം കാണിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. ഇത്തരം പ്രവർത്തികളിൽ നിന്നും ദയവായി പിന്തിരിയാം. #KMRL pic.twitter.com/2wTgiasnc5
— Kochi Metro Rail (@MetroRailKochi) April 29, 2019
According to the officials of KMRL, the social media posts have received attention from the public, with some even sending suggestions.
ഫുട്പാത്തിലൂടെ വാഹനം ഓടിച്ച്, ഇതിടിച്ചിട്ടവർ ഇത്തരം പ്രവർത്തികൾക്ക് വലിയ വില കൊടുക്കേണ്ടി വരുമെന്ന് ഇതിനാൽ വ്യക്തമാക്കുന്നു. നാമൊന്നായി നിന്നാലേ നമ്മുടെ നാടിനെ നന്നായി നിലനിർത്താനാവൂ. ഇത്തരം പ്രവർത്തികളിൽ നിന്നും മാറി, മാന്യമായ ഡ്രൈവിംഗ് സംസ്കാരം ശീലമാക്കാം. #KochiMetro #KMRL pic.twitter.com/C2tOatx5Y3
— Kochi Metro Rail (@MetroRailKochi) April 16, 2019
ഫുട്പാത്തിലൂടെ വാഹനം ഓടിക്കുന്നന്ത് വഴിയാത്രക്കാർക്ക് തടസവും, അപകടങ്ങൾക്ക് കാരണവും ആകുന്നു. അതുകൊണ്ട് ഫുട്പാത്തുകൾ വഴിയാത്രക്കാർക്ക് മാത്രമുള്ളതാണെന്ന് മനസ്സിലാക്കി, നമ്മുടെ കൊച്ചിക്കായി നല്ലൊരു ഡ്രൈവിംഗ് സംസ്കാരം ശീലമാക്കാം. #KMRL #KeepKochiBeautiful pic.twitter.com/IV2owGJGB9
— Kochi Metro Rail (@MetroRailKochi) April 11, 2019
"We are receiving inputs from people on various aspects of protecting our city. Some sent us pictures of properties being damaged that even we haven’t noticed. Some others said we should take this initiative forward by taking severe action against those who create such nuisance. We are glad that people are taking note,” said the official.