Kochi: An action plan will be ready in three months to find a solution to the severe traffic congestion issues in various parts of the district. The decision was taken at a high-level meet attended by IT Secretary M. Sivasankar, who is in charge of the district, collector Mohammed Y. Safirulla, DCP Yatish Chandra and RTO Sadique Ali and others. “The issue can’t be addressed just by strengthening the public transport system, but needs to be tackled from various angles. The administration should identify the spots in the city where the problem is acute and study the reasons before taking rectification measures. A reputed agency should be entrusted to make the detailed study which should address all issues including auto-taxi parking, illegal roadside vendors and unscientific setting up of poles among others,” Mr Sivasankar said.
Regional transport officer Sadiq Ali observed that the new cars shipped into the city should be driven and taken to the showrooms rather than transporting them in container lorries, a leading cause of traffic jams. “Similarly transportation of dangerous chemical materials from the port to factories should be allowed only by water,” he said. The action plan should give focus on providing pedestrian footpaths and the possibility of multi-level car parking. “Five leading causes of congestion should be identified and the action plan prepared in three months,” he said.
