Thiruvananthapuram: Red tape smothers traffic south division's expansion

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As traffic enforcement and jams in city get complex by the day, the South traffic division is yet to get a separate base and continues to operate from Pattom station. The division which manages areas as far as Nemom and Kovalam, operates from an almost saturated premises in the North of the city. Though a proposal was pending to construct a new Traffic South station and a fire station at Attukal, it was still struck in red tape.

The vehicles involved in accidents from across the city were being shunted as far as Pattom for procedures. A new South division station will make logistics easy for police as well as citizens, say officials. “Both traffics divisions have been sub-divided into five sectors each of which were being managed by different sub-inspectors. The SIs are responsible for planning, diversions and accident response. Four mobile traffic enforcement teams are always on field to rush in and help solve traffic bottle necks,” said an official.

Though in theory a sub inspector has to be constantly on ground, they often have to shuttle between home base. Back in South, sporadic traffic jams are common at areas such as Choorakkattupalayam, Enchakkal, Attakkulangara and Killi-palam. Apart from this they commandeer East fort and Thampanoor. “Let’s take Attakulangara-Ambalatha road as an example. Unlike in rest of the city, there is no traffic signal in this stretch for around 4.5 km. Sporadic jams happen, partly because of motorists and due to byroads joining narrower two lane roads,” the official added.