The Vyttila Mobility Hub (VMH) Society has sought a proposal from the PWD (Road’s Wing) to widen the narrow Kaniyampuzha Road through which buses access the mobility hub, a convergence point for public transport buses, Kochi metro and ferries.
The PWD’s promise of widening the road upto Eroor is hanging fire for over a decade.
“We are willing to surrender our land to widen the two-lane road into a four-lane one. This is because the second phase development of the bus terminal and other amenities at the hub, upcoming metro rail station on the premises and the Water Metro jetty will bring in more than double the existing number of passengers to the area. This will also necessitate the need to widen the narrow footpath and install proper street lights,” VMHS sources said.
The narrow footpaths on either side of the road do not have width for two people to cross each other. It is also ill-maintained and broken in many places. The stretch leading to the hub is also ill lit, though advertisements dot street-light poles.
The PWD’s delay in widening the road has resulted in an alternative corridor being built on the southern side to divert traffic when piling would begin shortly for a metro pillar at the entry of Kaniyampuzha Road. Another problem is haphazard parking of autorickshaws, taxi and private cars at the entry point of the hub, obstructing movement of vehicles and pedestrians. Pedestrians and motorists have been demanding intervention of the traffic police and VMH Society to address the problems.
