Cops put their foot down

KOCHI: In spite of the successful trial run of the traffic on Monday, the police have sent a notification to the corporation authorities stating that no traffic regulations would be implemented until the roads in the diverted routes are repaired. The demolishing of the North Overbridge in a hurry is likely to throw the entire traffic in a mess and create a huge congestion, given the condition of the roadsSources in the police said that the trial run was originally proposed for three days. But the police were forced to cut it short to a day bearing in mind the pathetic condition of the roads. The police commissioner M R Ajith Kumar has sent a communication to the Corporation heads stating that traffic regulation can only happen after roads are properly repaired. The police have refused to act on the proposed plans otherwise.According to Assistant Traffic Commissioner Baby Vinod more than 100 police personnel were deployed in various parts of the city. The trial was a major success,but everyone recogonises that such regulations won’t work in the long-term unless a solution to the bad roads is sought.“We had conducted a study about the traffic on North bridge earlier. We found that more than 60 per cent of the vehicles crossing the North overbridge are two and three wheelers. That’s why we diverted them alone,” Baby Vinod added.Meanwhile sources in the Corporation alleged that such needless rush for a trial run was shown only because the Chief Minister is meeting the Prime Minister on September 22 where he would be submitting the report on the Metro Rail project. Town planning Chairman K J Sohan said that the town planning council had earlier recommended that any traffic regulation plans should be undertaken only after the roads are properly repaired. “At first the Mayor had approved the recommendations made by the town planning council, but he changed his mind last month after discussing the matter with the Chief Minister. The main factor to consider is that the Corporation has no funds for such a massive project. The State Government has refused to give aid for several development projects in Kochi. The Corporation has taken loan from a private bank to pay the contractors for the project done last year.” K J Sohan said.