With extensive barricading by the Public Works Department (PWD-NH wing) for flyover construction works throwing traffic movement into disarray at Vyttila, daily review meetings will be held to minimise difficulties faced by commuters.
This was decided after District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla visited the junction during evening peak hours to take stock of worsening chaos at the junction, after PWD extended barricading on the eastern side. “More medians and other structures which impede traffic will be demolished within two days to make way for vehicles and pedestrians. Similarly, bus stops at the junction will be relocated, since they hold up traffic,” he said.
Steps will also be taken to prevent inter-State buses from halting at the junction and collecting commuters. Motor Vehicles Department officials have been asked to enforce this. “It must also be seen whether service roads can be developed to divert vehicles in either direction,” he said. His visit followed complaints of ambulances and other vehicles being stranded at the junction for long durations due to unscientific barricading.
The two to three-km-long snarls around Vyttila during the past week could have been avoided if PWD had begun flyover works after doing preparatory works, said P. Rangadasa Prabhu, president of Ernakulam District Residents Associations’ Apex Council (EDRAAC). “They must learn from metro agencies which developed bridges and widened alternative roads before beginning Kochi metro works. The district administration must proactively intervene since inadequate coordination among PWD, civic agencies, the police, NHAI, etc. has led to chaos at the junction.” Mr. Prabhu sought the inclusion of traffic planners in the committee, which is overseeing flyover works at the junction, to ensure steady movement of vehicles.
The traffic police blamed the PWD’s contractor for not ensuring two-lane space (7-metre-width) for vehicles while erecting barricades. “They keep moving barricades without permission of the police, unmindful of the obstructions they pose to motorists and pedestrians,” said Abdul Salam, Assistant Commissioner of Traffic Police (East).
Kundannoor flyover
Even as Vyttila is reeling under the impact of preparatory works not being done prior to the beginning flyover works, the Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala (RBDCK), a company under PWD, has chalked out plans to develop service roads and slip roads before commencing flyover construction at Kundannoor. “The contract to build a six-lane flyover at the junction has been awarded and work can begin shortly. But piling will begin only after preparatory works to divert traffic through service and slip roads are over,” said an official of the agency.
“The tarred portion of service roads will be increased to enable to-and-fro movement of vehicles. The slip roads towards Aroor side will enable diversion of vehicles through either side when flyover works is on at the junction,” he said.
