Traffic set to go out of gear

KOCHI: With the Kochi Corporation giving the green signal for the demolition of the North Overbridge, chaos is expected on city roads as the traffic on the Banerji Road will be diverted to various byroads. The alternative routes suggested only adds to the woes. As usual, the biggest problem is nothing but the poor condition of the roads. Entry for vehicles from the Aluva side is routed to MG Road via Thammanam and Kathrikkadavu junctions. Vehicles should go to Thammanam Junction from Palarivattom and then proceed along the Thammanam-Pullepady Road to reach C P Ummer Road and Chittoor Road before touching MG Road. The road from Thammanam Junction to Kathrikkadavu Junction and the C P Ummer Road are already narrow. When traffic, including medium vehicles and two-wheelers,  divert to these roads, there will be utter chaos along these stretches.The police have suggested two more routes (diversion from the main road in front of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium and at Kaloor Junction ) to reach Kathrikkadavu Junction. But  the traffic regulation notice does not say anything about controlling traffic at Kathrikkadavu Junction. The underpass near the Kathrikkadavu railway overbridge is in a neglected state and hardly any vehicle uses the route to get across the chaotic traffic at the junction. “The proposed regulations were submitted for the consideration of Corporation council. We are looking into all the alternatives to make traffic congestion-free. The under pass will be  used.  As for sign boards, the DMRC has to take a decision,” said Mohammed Rafik, Assistant Commissioner, City Traffic. The proposed regulations suggest two routes for vehicles going out of the city. One route is an exit towards Edappally touching Pachalam-Pottakuzhi-Elamakkara and Edappally. The other is a diversion from MG Road to Veekshanam Road and then on to Thammanam-Pullepady Road. The proposed regulation notice states that vehicles coming from Kaloor to Ernakulam Town Railway Station should divert to Manapatty Parambu, then turn left to SRM Road to reach the station’s eastern entry. Though it provides an alternative road, there is no parking space near the station's eastern gate. Meanwhile, the business community has expressed their apprehensions over the expected traffic congestion once the work begins. The Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Deepak Aswani said that the Corporation did not implement any of the decisions taken at the meeting held last month on the pre-demolition steps to be taken. “Thammanam-Pullepady approach road has not been widened and the Salim Rajan Road ROB is not ready. The Chief Minister who was present at the meeting had allotted Rs 25 crore as immediate funds for road widening projects,” he said.