Minor modifications to the design of four major junctions along the Edappally-Kundanoor NH 47 Bypass could considerably unwind traffic hold ups on the stretch till the proposed flyovers are ready.
The alterations can be done without any land acquisition in many places, while taking over a couple of cents of land will work wonders in other areas. Curbs on parking and removal of illegal auto stands and encroachers too will ensure faster movement of vehicles at the junctions.
“Fresh lanes can be added to the junction’s northern and southern portions if free-left turns are relocated to the kerb on either sides,” said M. B. Satyan, general secretary of Ernakulam District Private Bus Operators’ Association. Mr. Satyan also suggested a ban on parking at the junction for a distance of about 300 metres on all directions.
The diversion of a few vehicles through the side road near Power House will reduce the queue of vehicles awaiting signal in the Pettah-Vyttila stretch.
Kundanoor is yet another junction which needs urgent widening. Here, the free-left turn towards Maradu is unnecessarily wide, while the main carriageway towards Aroor is too narrow and has a width of just over two lanes. The traffic police have stepped in and divided the free left into two using cones, adding a new lane there.
Similarly, Palarivattom bypass junction can be widened if a portion of the service road on the south-western side is added to the free left and a small portion of the building on the curve added to it. This will provide an additional lane towards Edappally. A similar modification can be done even on the north-eastern side where the free left has limited space.
General secretary of Human Rights Defence Forum D.B. Binu said junctions along the bypass could be decongested if existing alternative roads are widened. “Kundanoor and Vyttilla junctions can be decongested if approach roads to the Ezhupunna Bridge are developed. This will benefit commuters from Aroor to West Kochi, who can travel without paying toll,” he said.
