Residents resist traffic reforms in Kochi

Kochi: Tripunithura municipality has written to the city police commissioner for a review of the extension of the recently introduced traffic regulations at major junctions to SN Junction and Alliance Junction following local resistance terming it as “unilateral” and without taking them into confidence.

“Banning vehicles from Eroor side from directly cutting across the Refinery Road and directing them to take a U-turn after on the left instead was without consulting the municipality. Usually, such decisions come through our Traffic Advisory Committee. We’ve been receiving many complaints,” the municipal chairperson Chandrika Devi said.

After the modifications at Vytilla and Palarivattom junctions, the traffic police extended it here on September 8, adding difficulty to motorists coming from Eroor and Tripunithura side.

“The roads here are very narrow and the direction asking the vehicles to take ‘U’-turn a little away from the junctions had only added to the woes. They should review the reform in the wake of complaints, including at Vytilla,” local legislator M. Swaraj said.

The Tripunithura Rajanagari Union of Residents (Trura) had organised an open debate on the issue at SN junction attended by all people’s representatives and police and motor vehicle department (MVD) officials.

However, the police authorities are keen to take the reforms forward. “The decisions were taken after conducting a proper study. Over one lakh vehicles pass through the Refinery road every day. After we had introduced the reforms at Vytilla, the vehicular movement became faster. The changes were introduced here too as part of the measures to ease traffic congestion. The vehicles from the side roads are diverted from main junctions instead of crossing there,” said Tripunithura traffic circle inpector Nizamuddin.