Kochi: The busy Vytilla Junction, where construction of a flyover and a metro pillar is progressing, witnessed one of its worst traffic jams on Thursday as hundreds of motorists were stuck on the stretch from Kundanoor to the busiest junction during morning and evening peak hours. “Vehicles could be seen lined up for over two kms. It took me nearly an hour to cover the stretch around four pm. The construction of the flyover has just began. The authorities have to make effective traffic diversions otherwise the issue will only get worse with construction activities set to gather steam in the coming days,” said Pramod Thomas, who was travelling to Kaloor from Aroor in his car. According to local residents, the traffic jam started by around 8 am in the morning.
“The traffic congestion was mainly on account of the construction work. We will dismantle all the remaining medians at the junction to ease the situation,” said K A Abdul Salam, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Traffic East. The situation worsened on Thursday due to staging of the national Dermatology conference at a hotel located just near the NH 66 at Kundanoor Junction. “We were forced to divert vehicles coming from Maradu side through the underpass which accounted for the traffic jam at the junction. Also the event was attended by nearly 6000 delegates and the parking of vehicles was another problem,” the officer said.
