KOCHI: Indicating further delay in the construction of the Metro station at Kadavanthra in front of the Greater Cochin Development Authority office, the traffic regulation plan proposed at SA Road has been stuck midway.
Top traffic police authorities are clueless about how to divert big vehicles including buses from Kadavanthra junction to reach Panampilli Nagar, one of the busiest routes in the city.
The traffic coordination committee meeting chaired by ADGP south zone K. Padmakumar and Kochi Metro Rail Limited managing director Elias George on December 4 had decided to impose traffic regulations at SA Road from December 17,but it could not be introduced due to objections from various quarters.
“We could not introduce diversion of big vehicles from Kadavanthra junction through KP Vallon Road as it was not feasible. Private bus operators and residents’ associations in the area have objected to the plan. The diversion will cause regular traffic congestion along 3.7 kilometres of which 2.1 kilometres is too narrow,” said Baby Vinod, assistant police commissioner (traffic).
The top official added that some other alternative plan would be chalked out soon to facilitate the beginning of Metro station construction at the earliest. Though a trial run to check the feasibility of traffic regulations was also planned, it could not be implemented.
The 11 metre portion of the 15 metre wide bridge in front of the GCDA office has to be barricaded for station works and the area has to be made one-way with entry to vehicles from Panampilli Nagar side only.
The private bus operators’ confederation have submitted a proposal to the KMRL MD requesting the construction of a temporary steel bridge structure parallel to the Kadavanthra Bridge or diverting buses through Giri Nagar, Mammattypalam Bridge to reach Panampilli Nagar.
The residents’ associations have raised concerns against traffic diversions as they have to put up with congested roads and movement of big vehicles.
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