The Hindu : Kerala News : Special drive for lane discipline soon Traffic in focus

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 25, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Kerala

Kerala

Special drive for lane discipline soon Traffic in focus

Photo: H. Vibhu

ENDLESS WAIT: Traffic jam at the Ernakulam North Overbridge. —

In the north overbridge area, from the Kaloor side, only buses should be allowed to use the main bridge in single line. Car and two-wheelers should be asked to go through the causeway. The present location of the bus

stop in front of the Town Hall should be either stopped or moved forward. A signal light has to be put up at the Town Hall area exclusively for safe pedestrian-crossing. At Kacheripadi junction, after installing signal lights, vehicles from Chittoor road (north side) should be allowed to cross Banerji Road and then proceed only to south direction. No right turn should be allowed there. That crossing time can be effectively utilised for pedestrian crossing in that busy junction. In the Palarivattom side, the present bus stop at Polakkulam Junction should be shifted to further north. Vehicles from Kaloor side to Kakkanad should be allowed to proceed straight through the recently-widened road (from St. Martin Junction). As there is a roundabout at Palarivattom Junction, vehicles reaching the junction from east and south can proceed to Aluva side straight through the present one-way road.

K. Kanakachandran

Desabhimani Road All the three suggestions are good. Though we had experimented by allowing buses only to use the main bridge, this failed due to various reasons. But the proposal to shift the Town hall bus stop has been taken up with the Corporation and we are still working on an alternative plan to relocate the same. At Kacheripadi we will be bringing in traffic signal lights within the next one month and open the Chittoor road for some two-way traffic. We will look into your suggestions for changes at Palarivattom junction and implement the same if feasible.

The number of bus stops in the city can be reduced further by relocating them. Form bus bays, which are off from the main traffic flow. Ensure all signal lights function perfectly round the clock and all junctions ar

e manned by the traffic police. There is a lot of improvement in the vehicle parking culture in city these days, however the strict drive should continue.

E. P. Joy

Thrikkakara Your point is correct. Unscientific bus lanes are one of the major problems of traffic in the city and that is the reason why we have set up a committee to study the same and suggest measures for relocation of bus shelters, cutting of bus shelters, construction of bus bays and so on. As stated we will be continuing our drive to check traffic offences and to ensure more discipline on the roads.

Relocate bus stops that create traffic congestion, like the ones at Palarivattom bypass junction, North Town Hall, and Kacheripadi-Chittoor junction. Circular buses must be introduced via Edappally bypass junction to

Vyttila, Ernakulam to Menaka, High court to Kaloor, Palarivattom to Edappally and also in opposite directions. All types of processions must be banned during weekdays and during peak hours.

M. Krishna Kumar

Elamakkara

We have set up a committee to study the same and suggest measures for relocation of bus shelters, cutting of bus shelters, construction of bus bays, and so on, as stated earlier and we would be implementing the decisions of this committee in a month or two. Also your suggestions on banning of processions are valid ones, but they require government clearance. We have referred this to the District Collector for creating a consensus among the political parties so that processions can be banned, at the very least on Marine Drive.

Bus stops should be built a little away from the main road so that even if two buses are stopping near the bus stop, the traffic can flow easily. All motorists do not keep a safe distance while stopping at a signal or

rail crossing. This should be checked. The lines on the road should be painted properly so that motorists can know which lane they are and while changing they can look back and see whether any vehicles are coming and put on the proper signals. This is not done by most people.

Nihal Abdul Hameed

Kakkanad

Your suggestion on bus shelters is good, but here in Kochi, there is lack of space on the roads and on the margins to construct comfortable bus shelters and it is not possible to do any new constructions due to the rapid development on both sides of the roads throughout the city. Lane discipline is another aspect, which is not taken seriously by motorists here. We will be bringing out a special drive for better lane discipline in the days to come, manpower needs permitting.

The unused railway tracks at Pachalam that lead to Lourdes hospital are a traffic nightmare. The defunct railway posts squeeze traffic into bottlenecks and a policeman is never is to be seen especially during peak hou

rs. This junction can be widened by removing the defunct railway posts. A policeman stationed here at peak times will help in reducing the traffic blocks.

Bobby Varkey

By e-mail We are aware of the problem and we have taken it up with the Railways in this regard and the final orders in this regard is awaited from the Railways. The removal of the traffic posts is actually bound to help the improvement in traffic in that area. Regarding the posting of a policeman on duty, we are already short of manpower especially in the traffic Wing. Anyway I will see if this is possible with the existing manpower constraints.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News Update

Stories in this Section