Escalators near the mofussil bus stand in Kozhikode have once again fallen into disrepair, causing significant inconvenience for commuters. Just weeks after being temporarily repaired in May, the escalators at this mechanized foot overbridge have stopped functioning, forcing many to rely on stairs. This situation is particularly challenging for senior citizens and differently-abled individuals who depend on the escalators to cross the busy Rajaji Road.

The escalators had been out of service for approximately four months prior to their temporary fix, with the installation company citing worn-out parts and the need for custom-made components as reasons for the delay. The foot overbridge, which connects the bus stand with V.K. Krishna Menon Indoor Stadium, was inaugurated in 2020 and was initially celebrated as a major improvement for pedestrian access in Kozhikode. However, ongoing issues with the escalators have undermined its intended purpose of enhancing walkability in the city.

Original article

The provided text is a news article that appears to be neutral on the surface, but upon closer examination, several biases and manipulations become apparent. One of the most striking biases is the framing of the issue as a problem caused by the disrepair of escalators, which is presented as an unfortunate circumstance that affects senior citizens and differently-abled individuals. This framing creates a narrative of victimhood and sympathy for these groups, which can be seen as virtue signaling.

The use of words like "inconvenience" and "significant" to describe the impact of the broken escalators on commuters creates an emotional tone that nudges readers toward feeling sorry for those affected. This linguistic bias aims to elicit empathy from readers without providing a balanced view of the situation. The text does not mention any potential benefits or advantages that might arise from using stairs instead of escalators, such as increased physical activity or improved muscle strength.

Furthermore, the article assumes that senior citizens and differently-abled individuals are unable to use stairs without assistance, reinforcing stereotypes about their abilities. This assumption is based on a narrow understanding of disability and ageism, which neglects individual variations in ability and resilience. By presenting these groups as helpless victims, the text reinforces a patronizing attitude toward them.

The narrative also implies that the installation company's delay in repairing the escalators was due to worn-out parts and custom-made components needed for repair. However, this explanation may not be entirely accurate or comprehensive. The text does not provide any context about whether there were systemic issues with maintenance or if there were other factors at play. This omission allows readers to assume that everything was done correctly by all parties involved.

Moreover, when discussing past events related to this issue – specifically mentioning four months prior when they stopped working – it seems like an attempt at creating historical context but actually serves more like presentism where only recent problems are highlighted while ignoring past solutions or mitigating factors.

In terms of economic bias, there is no explicit mention of financial costs associated with maintaining or repairing these escalators; however one could argue it might have been included had they wanted portray themselves more sympathetic towards corporations who may have invested heavily into building them initially thus implying some formality around cost sharing between public-private partnerships wasn't partaken here either leaving room open interpretation depending reader perspective taken .

Another subtle bias lies in how sources are cited; none appear within this piece yet considering how certain information has been framed already gives reason believe specific viewpoints might've influenced writing process even though direct quotes aren't present here still leaves room questioning reliability overall content presented.



Regarding structural bias within institutions governing public works projects such infrastructure development decisions seem highly centralized lacking clear transparency surrounding decision-making processes especially concerning allocation resources prioritization needs local communities face daily struggles navigating urban spaces similar examples exist elsewhere worldwide indicating systemic flaws exist beyond isolated incidents reported media outlets often highlighting isolated cases rather than tackling root causes societal ills