A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday directed the Ernakulam District Collector to convene a meeting of all stakeholders to discuss the cause for frequent accidents on Container Road and suggest remedial measures.
The Bench, comprising Justice K.T. Sankaran and Justice K.P. Jyothindranath, asked the Collector to file a report by May 30 after discussing the issue at the meeting of stakeholders including the National Highway Authority of India, Dubai Port World, Goshree Island Development Authroity, Cochin Port Trust, secretaries of Kalamassery and Eloor municipalities, Secretary of Cherannalloor panchayat and the City Police Commissioner.
The court issued the directive while initiating a suo motu case on the basis of a letter written by Justice P.N. Ravindran of the Kerala High Court, highlighting the two tragic accidents that took place in a row on the road recently.
Newspaper reports
In his letter, the judge pointed out that newspaper reports had attributed the cause for both the accidents to the unscientific parking of heavy vehicles such as container lorries on the roadside. The Motor Vehicles Act insists on switching on parking lights while parking vehicles on the roadside.
However, vehicles parking on Container Road do not comply with rules.
Ban being defied
Though the District Collector had prohibited parking by the margins of the road, the ban was constantly being defied by drivers, the letter said.
Vehicles parked on Container Road seldom comply with rules, says judge
