Kerala - Kochi   

Parking woes worsen congestion

KOCHI: Relaxations of building rules on important roads in the city, made by successive governments, have led to traffic congestion, says a report.

The report, prepared by the Local Administration Secretary for consideration at a recent meeting on traffic snarls in the city, says many buildings on important roads do not have parking space.

Also, they lack the mandatory open space around them. Hence, vehicles are parked on roads, increasing traffic congestion.

The meeting was chaired by Local Administration Minister Paloli Mohammed Kutty.

Though four-lane traffic has been planned on Mahatma Gandhi Road, only two lanes will be available for traffic most of the time. Long queues of vehicles are seen regularly on this road because part of the carriageway is occupied by vehicles parked on the sides. Buses stopping at bus bays on the road and vehicles waiting for signals cause congestion, the report says.

The report suggests that traffic snarls can be reduced to some extent by preventing parking on roads that experience frequent blocks. This may prompt traders to provide parking spaces for customers on their own.

The Kerala Building Rules should be modified by incorporating provisions for addressing traffic blocks in cities. The report says the provision permitting construction of multi-storey flat complexes on sites with 5-metre road access is leading to traffic snarls. Provisions for providing parking space for each flat should be made mandatory.

The relaxation granted for adding two floors to existing buildings are contributing to traffic blocks in the cities, the report says.

A permanent solution for the ever-growing traffic snarls in the city and adjoining areas is the speedy notification and strict implementation of a master plan, the report says.

A high-power committee, with the Mayor, the District Collector, the Kochi Corporation Secretary and the Police Commissioner as members, has been formed to review the traffic situation and violations of building rules in the city.

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