If all goes as per plan, motorists from across the city will not have to frequent the City traffic police station at Pattom to register complaints or pay fines.
The City police have submitted a proposal to the State Police Chief seeking division of the City Traffic Police force, establishing multiple centres across the city. The need for effective enforcement and the convenience of the public have been cited as the prime objectives behind the proposal.
As per the proposal, a sub-divisional office of the South zone of the City traffic police should be established at East Fort. At present both the South and North zones function from Pattom. Three additional traffic police circle offices should be established at Kazhakuttam, Vizhinjam, and East Fort, in addition to the existing one at Pattom.
Proposed jurisdictionWhile the jurisdiction of the proposed office at Kazhakuttam will be spread across areas under the Kazhakuttam, Thumba, Sreekaryam and Medical College police, the Vizhinjam circle office will enforce traffic rules across Vizhinjam, Kovalam, Thiruvallam, and Nemom. The proposed East Fort station, which could function as the Central traffic police station, will handle issues pertaining to East Fort, Thampanoor, Pettah, Vanchiyoor, and Karamana.
Biju Prabhakar, who, as District Collector, had earlier recommended the move in a report submitted to the Home Secretary, said the addition of Kazhakuttam to the city limits had necessitated a decentralised system of enforcement. Besides, lack of space on the premises of the City traffic police station has resulted in several vehicles being parked on the road, hindering vehicular flow.
“With expansion along the NH-66 bypass and the Kazhakuttam region on the anvil, effective regulation of traffic would become impossible with the existing arrangement and manpower,” he said. S.R. Jyothish Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, Traffic (South), said once the bypass was widened, there would be an increased flow of heavy vehicles. Moreover, flyovers have been planned at Sreekaryam, Ulloor and Thampanoor, along with a subway at Pattom junction. “We must plan much ahead with an eye on future development. Failure in strengthening enforcement could give way to chaos as was seen in Kochi when work on the Metro had begun,” he said.
