KOCHI: On Saturday and Sunday, vehicular traffic was thrown out of gear for several hours in Edappally, Palarivattom, Mamangalam and nearby areas. The situation was so bad that even ambulances found it difficult to make a way out. The big discount sale offered by a shopping mall in Edappally is the major reason cited for massive traffic block. The traffic chaos began by Saturday morning lasted till Sunday evening. During peak time, it took more than an hour to cross Edappally junction.
The traffic police and wardens failed to ease the traffic snarl. Though vehicles were diverted through Seaport – Airport Road the Edappally – Vyttila bypass was not decongested. When two wheelers and three wheelers took the alternative routes, those narrow roads were also congested. On Saturday, many private buses cancelled trips as they failed to keep the schedule.
A serpentine queue of vehicles was seen along the Palarivattom – Edappally, Kunnumpuram – Edappally and Kalamassery – Edappally stretches. “On these two days, the roads near Edappally were seen congested almost all time. Service roads on both sides of the NH bypass and the small roads in the area too were congested,” said a trader near the Edappally St. George church. Traffic wardens said it is tough to manage the high flow of vehicles, especially when it rains.
"Lack of awareness on proper road management and instances of traffic rules violation are the biggest problems,” said a traffic warden. Meanwhile, the date of commissioning of the Edappally flyover which is expected to decongest the busy junction to a great extent is yet to be finalised. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is in the final stage of completing the over bridge.
