Kochi unprepared to handle onam traffic

KOCHI: Tough times are ahead for the authorities who are responsible for maintaining traffic movement in the city as bad roads, ongoing Metro Rail works and flyover construction at busy junctions pose challenges for them during festival days.

With Onam just a couple of weeks away, the city roads and streets are in very poor condition with potholes and no footpaths. The proven strategies of city traffic police authorities to handle the increased traffic might not be successful this year as the situation is different.

Due to flyover construction at busy Palarivattom and Edappally junctions, there is traffic congestion along the bypass and arterial roads even during the weekends and holidays.

The city traffic will come to a standstill if alternative roads are not repaired on a war-footing, according to sources.

Ban on parking along roadsides, deploying additional wardens and rerouting vehicles through alternative roads are some of the measures that police authorities used to adopt during festival days.  

Meanwhile, Sajan Koikkal, assistant commissioner of police (traffic) east told DC that a request has been submitted to the DGP through the City Commissioner to provide additional police force to manage the heavy rush.

“There are plans to use vacant plots in the city and outskirts for parking for which discussions will be held with landowners. Since parking cannot be banned, open spaces have to be utilised for the purpose to ease traffic congestion,” he said.  

The effect of the traffic jam is expected to have a cascading effect on suburban areas like Aluva, Tripunithura, Thoppumpady and Kakkanad. Especially, the Tripunithura – Vyttila stretch will be a nightmare for commuters.