Kochi: Residents blame cops for unscientific routes

Kochi: Residents of St Benedict Road in Kochi are furious over the over-speeding of buses through the narrow St. Benedict - Paramara Road near Kacherippady after a speeding bus rammed the compound wall of a house on the stretch at around 7 am on Tuesday. The inmates of the house were sitting inside the house that time, and saved themselves.

The residents have decided to go for a protest by stopping the buses plying the stretch, if necessary actions are not taken by the authorities.

The bus, which first hit a lorry coming in the opposite direction, was driven dangerously, according to police.

The residents said such accidents are bound to happen as the narrow road is not suitable for such heavy and dangerous traffic.

They said large public transport vehicles are diverted through the narrow road while smaller vehicles are given access to the wider road. This practice should end, they said.

Mr M.R. Rajendran Nair, president of Anti-Corruption People's Movement and resident of the area, said the traffic police is solely responsible for this accident. “They have taken no action despite protests against the illegal and unscientific traffic diversion through a residential area, that too through a narrow road,” he said.