Kerala - Kochi   

Myopic planning plagues traffic junctions in Kochi

John L. Paul

Need to evict encroachers and ban parking in junctions

EXPLOITATION: Vendors are increasingly misusing road medians and footpath. Buyers park their vehicles on the road near them, causing accidents. A scene in Kochi. Photo: H. Vibhu

KOCHI : Myopic planning haunts traffic junctions in Kochi. The city's narrow arterial and side roads end up in narrow junctions.

The result is chaos, with motorists, cyclists and pedestrians jostling for the available space, which has either been encroached upon by shops and vendors or occupied by vehicles parked haphazardly. Passing through junctions like Vytilla, Palarivattom and Kaloor is a nightmare for both motorists and pedestrians.

The authorities concerned have not taken steps to evict encroachers from roads and footpath and ban parking in junctions. The northern side of Vytilla junction is wide enough to carry at least eight buses in both directions. But with vegetable and fruit vendors occupying the width required for around two buses, confusion prevails here all through the day. The watch-tower of the traffic police overlooks the encroachments.

Unplanned bus stops

The bus stops located at junctions make things worse. The tendency of private buses to park at the centre of the road adds to the melee. The situation is particularly bad in the eastern side of Kadavanthra and Vytilla junctions and in front of the Government Girls High School. Motorists eager to cross the junction before the signal turns red, honk endlessly, but buses take their own time to move. Addition of at least one reserve lane in each direction will go a long way in streamlining traffic at junctions.

The additional lanes will accommodate more number of vehicles width-wise, paving the way for faster crossings at junctions and thereby, faster traffic in the city. Most junctions in the city do not have wide enough free-left turns. This holds up traffic even further.

Taking a free left turn at the Palarivattom bypass junction is impossible during peak hours, despite the National Highways Authority of India pumping in Rs.27 lakh for widening the road. This is because vehicles pack themselves on the left side of the road, fearing that they will ram into the unscientifically-built road median that protrudes into the road from the northern side.

The left turn on the western side of Vytilla junction is blocked by vehicles parked illegally and buildings protruding into the road.

The free-left at the Kaloor junction is almost non-existent, since the curves are at 90-degree turns, thanks to footpaths and shops jutting into it.

Even small towns in Kerala have stop bays and zebra lines at junctions, but not in Kochi. There is increasing demand to build pedestrian underpasses and flyovers in busy junctions like Vytilla, Kaloor, Palarivattom, Pallimukku and Kundanoor. Malfunctioning traffic lights slow down traffic even further.

City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham said that installing traffic islands in junctions (for policemen) has become impossible in Kochi, since most junctions are very narrow.

The Corporation's plan to develop and beautify junctions, announced over two years ago, is yet to bear fruit. Except for the installation of high-mast lights in some junctions, most junctions remain the same.

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