A logistical problem

KOCHI: Even as private buses go beserk on Kochi roads, container trucks are adding to the already persisting chaos. The poorly maintained city roads are not wide enough to accommodate the huge vehicles. The issue aggravates whenever these vehicles try to take a U-turn or enter byroads to deliver the consignment. 

“Isn’t there a rule regarding entry of heavy vehicles inside the city limits?” asked Hari, an autorickshaw driver. “I believe the traffic police have brought in a rule where heavy vehicles can’t enter the city limits after 8 am,” he added. However, in Kochi, which is growing at a rapid rate, it becomes difficult to mark the city limits.

“Now places that were once considered to be rural zones have developed by leaps and bounds. The city is expanding. Hence, without a ring road and logistics stations, we can’t expect to get respite from this issue,” said a teacher. Big cities in northern states have a ring road and a logistics station. There is also a ban in force blocking the entry of heavy vehicles into the city,” said the teacher who has worked at a school in Delhi.

Already, the city roads are congested, said Ravi Kumar, a techie. “It is high time the authorities came up with a system that streamlines the traffic and rein in the number of accidents taking place in the city,” he said.

However, contrary to this, a Motor Vehicle Department officer states there are no rules by the Centre or State government that stop heavy vehicles from entering the city. “Of course, the traffic police department has brought in a rule curtailing the movement of the heavy vehicles. But that has not been ratified by the MVD,”  a Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) officer said.  “These vehicles can’t be asked not to enter the city limits. They too pay road tax and are entitled to the roads. However, there is a provision that says if the vehicles cause traffic snarl-ups or any other issues they can penalised,” he said.

The bigger problem
The poorly maintained city roads are not wide enough to accommodate the huge vehicles. The issue aggravates whenever these vehicles try to take a U-turn or enter byroads to deliver the consignment.
“It is high time the authorities came up with a system that streamlines the traffic,” said Ravi Kumar, a techie. However, officials say there are no rules by the Centre or State government that stop heavy vehicles from entering the city.