The death of a teenager in an accident on Beach Road in the South Beach area has intensified public protests against the unauthorised parking of lorries on the stretch. Muhammed Akram, 18, from Panniyankara, was the fourth victim of illegal parking of lorries on the road in recent times.
Over the past five years, the Thekkeppuram Residents’ Coordination Committee (TRCC) has been petitioning the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation several times against illegal parking.
Parking space
The lorries carry goods from different parts of the country to Valiyangadi, the main market in the city. Around 100 lorries come to the market every day. In 2013, the TRCC took the initiative to set up a parking centre on the west side of the road. But, the space was inadequate to accommodate all the lorries, and hence the lorries continued to be parked on the roadside.
When accidents occurred frequently, the police intervened and got an assurance from the lorry owners not to park their vehicles there, but the agreement did not last long. “Most of the lorry agencies have offices near Valiyangadi. That is why the vehicles are parked there,” said TRCC secretary P.C. Abdul Latheef.
The stretch from Hotel Sea Queen to Francis Road is the narrowest part of the Beach Road. The North Beach side has four lane roads with footpaths. The residents have been asking why the lorries are not parked there.
Crime rate
“The parking of lorries has led to an increase in crime rate in the region with drug peddlers, illegal sand miners and other antisocial elements using it as a cover,” said TRCC president P. Mammad Koya.
Earlier this year, the Kozhikode Corporation had decided to identify a space to park the lorries, but efforts have not been successful yet. The TRCC had pointed out that enough space was available on Gandhi Road and near Vengeri vegetable market where 250 to 500 lorries could be parked.
Following the death of Akram, a meeting was convened at the Kozhikode Town Police Station in which representatives of the lorry owners and the local people took part. There was no representation from the corporation.
The police have already served a notice on the lorry owners. The police have sought one week’s time to get the parked lorries moved. The TRCC has demanded the posting of two police officers at the Valiyangadi Junction to ensure that lorries were not parked on the road. “If adequate action is not taken in a week, we have no option but to intensify protest measures,” said Mr. Mammad Koya.
