A freight management system proposed last year for Kozhikode, which sees hundreds of trucks arriving and leaving everyday, by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) remains on paper even as road margins and public spaces are crammed with trucks parked illegally.
After conducting extensive field studies, a NAPAC had suggested setting up truck terminals at five locations for multi-axle vehicles. The Motor Vehicles Department and local bodies too had come out with some action plans. However, none of the locations identified for the truck terminal has so far been set up. The result is that drivers park their trucks on the road margins on beach road near Kallayi Bridge and along other major city roads.
NATPAC officials who were associated with the study said there were five locations – Puthiyappa, Valiyangadi, Beypore, Pantheeramkavu, and Kunnamangalam – suggested for the construction of truck terminals after analysing the wide catchments for truck traffic. This was in addition to the three off-street parking locations proposed at Meenchantha, Elathur, and Karanthur.
The freight management system was recommended as part of a Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) for the city. Even the short-term improvement plans with less capital investments for bringing in quick relief from traffic problems found no way to the implementing phase. Though the traffic levels at main junctions like the Moffussil bus stand, Ramanattukara junction, Eranhipalam junction, CSI Church junction, Palayam junction, Poonthanam junction and Medical College junctions reached high in the range of 5,000 to 9,000 Passenger Car Units during peak hours, the challenge was poorly noticed for a change in the poorly designed geometrics.
Residents’ demand
Meanwhile, the lack of prompt action plan to accommodate the trucks has already provoked many of the residents’ forums in the city. The Thekkeppuram Residents Coordination Committee has taken up the demand with the City Corporation arguing that the regular flow of nearly 100 trucks to the Valiyangadi is making the biggest mess in the absence of a scientific freight management plan. They point out that the crisis continues even though the district administration has the powers to make use of the acres of vacant space near the Agricultural Market at Vengeri.
Lorry drivers’ plight
iShaju Almana, State secretary of the Lorry Owners Federation, points out that the truck drivers are the most neglected segments on the road, who are denied even the comfort station facilities in cities. “In Kozhikode city, many of the inter-State truck drivers are helplessly making use of the open space for their personal needs lacking any other facility. Same is the case with their vehicles that can never be accommodated like a car in underdeveloped urban space,” he adds.
