Kochi: The heavy traffic congestion at Palarivattom, exacerbated by ongoing Metro construction, has prompted authorities to implement urgent measures. After a site visit on Wednesday, Mayor V K Minimol declared a coordinated effort involving multiple government departments and agencies to resolve the issue within four days.
Mayor's Inspection and Assurance
Mayor Minimol, accompanied by chairpersons of corporation standing committees T K Ashraf, Antony Painumthara, and P M Naseema, along with corporation secretary P S Shibu, municipal officials, and traffic police, inspected the troubled junction. She revealed that discussions with Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) yielded a commitment to complete roadwork in four days, restoring two-way traffic.
Key Bottleneck Identified
According to the mayor, the primary bottleneck arises from vehicles converging from four different roads at the junction. Authorities have directed that the road be restored to its original width and paved with tiles. Since pillars are being erected on both sides, officials stipulated that construction on one side should commence only after traffic is fully restored on the opposite side.
Drainage and Traffic Measures
The mayor noted that the culvert responsible for draining water from Palarivattom Junction was blocked. Efforts to clear the obstruction have begun, with pipes recommended as a temporary solution. However, she emphasized that a proper culvert must ultimately be built. Additionally, traffic police were instructed to allow two-wheelers through the existing U-turn and permit vehicle access via that route during non-peak hours.
Monitoring and Supervision
The corporation will closely monitor the work to ensure timely completion. Later that evening, a meeting chaired by the mayor with KMRL officials, traffic police, and corporation authorities discussed immediate steps to ease congestion. The municipality assigned an assistant engineer and an overseer to supervise the work and ensure adherence to the schedule.
These coordinated efforts aim to alleviate the daily struggles of commuters at one of Kochi's busiest intersections.
