Danger lurks at Statue bridge!

Kochi: Traffic in Kochi and its satellite towns is growing at an exponential rate but the curse of the city is its narrow bridges and roads.

One classic instance is the bridge at Statue Junction which has become a death trap for pedestrians as the narrow bridge, now part of the Kochi-Madurai national highway, has no footpaths.
“It’s very dangerous for pedestrians.

If two buses from opposite directions arrive at the same time, there is no room for people to walk and cross over to the other side. Due to this problem, the Spencers Super Market on the eastern side of the bridge was forced to shut down,” said V.C.Jayendran, convenor of Thripunithura Rajanagari Union of Residents’ Association.

TRURA even submitted a memorandum to a few ministers and the municipality demanded that the bridge be reconstructed by widening it to over 20 metres. “At least they could build a separate footpath by the side of the bridge. With just a  small railing, people who walk through the stretch are always in danger,” he said.

At least four mishaps involving pedestrians and two-wheelers were reported along the stretch last month. “The mishaps are frequent there and I too negotiate the section with fear,” said Komaol, a Nagaland native who works in a hotel near the bridge.