Police propose measures to tackle Kochi city’s traffic woes on a war footing

The Kochi City police will issue directions to various departments on the immediate measures to be taken to ease persistent traffic congestion at key locations in and around the city. The move comes as part of a coordinated effort initiated by the police to address the city’s long-pending traffic woes, which have worsened owing to the reopening of schools and ongoing works on the Kochi metro extension and the national highway.

The police’s plan is to identify and implement short-, medium-, and long-term solutions in a phased manner. The traffic choke points identified by the police include Edappally, Palarivattom, Cheranalloor, Edachira, Vyttila, Thiruvankulam, Thevara, Bolgatty Junction, Pallimukku, High Court Junction, Kaloor, Kadavanthra, Pachalam, and Vathuruthy.

The police have already identified the issues requiring urgent attention, and recommendations will be issued to the departments concerned, including the Kochi Corporation, Public Works department (PWD), Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Kochi metro, and the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), a senior police official said.

“The suggestions have been prepared after a detailed analysis of each traffic hotspot. They will include immediate measures such as cutting obstructive trees, removing obstacles, ensuring free left turns, and repairing defunct street lights,” the official added.

District Police Chief (Kochi City) Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar recently convened a meeting of various departments to discuss the issue. The departments were also asked to submit proposals to address the traffic crisis.

The PWD, officials said, will inspect sites under its jurisdiction and make proposals to ease traffic snarls as the situation demands. “We will implement the quick fixes we can on the ground, while issues requiring long-term solutions will be compiled into a report and submitted to the District Police Chief,” a PWD official said.

Mayor V.K. Minimol said the local body will take appropriate decisions after examining the issues highlighted by the police.