One of the crucial stretches in the city, the Uppidamoodu-Vanchiyoor road, has been out of bounds for commuters for nearly five months now.
The work, to widen the road with concrete slabs being placed over the Vanchiyoor canal, has been on since October but, of late, has been held up after protests from greens in the city against the cutting down of trees on the stretch.
While the greens’ argument that several trees are to be ruthlessly brought down to make way for smooth flow of traffic is strong, fact is that delay in the work, with a solution acceptable to both the authorities and the protesters yet to evolve, is putting people to untold inconvenience.
With protests against cutting down of trees witnessed in the city several times earlier too, the authorities could have launched the work after taking them into confidence or working out a solution where minimum damage was done to the remaining few patches of greenery in the city.
However, that not being done and with a lack of proper alternatives offering smooth passage for traffic through the area, it is the common man who is now paying the price.
The Uppidamoodu-Pettah road is one alternative, but with the road being narrow, traffic jams are now a frequent affair in the area, several times every day.
Bumps on the road make for good speed breakers. But what if a driver cannot see those bumps? They become a source of accidents, the exact opposite of what they are supposed to do.
There are many such spots in the capital city— the pair of bumps on the road leading from the Government Guest House, Thycaud, past the Government Model school and on to the College of Music is a good example.
These speed breakers were installed, no doubt, to prevent speeding on this road where there is a school on one side and the arts college and the Model school campus just beyond.
Only thing is that these bumps have no marking on them, no illuminating device which alerts a motorist.
Even in broad daylight, these bumps are barely discernable.
At night, this dimly-lit road renders these bumps virtually invisible. This poses a real danger to those riding two-wheelers. All that has to be done here is to paint the bumps appropriately. It is a puzzle why the powers that be are not doing this.
The State government’s decision to extend budgetary support to the Public Works Department to carry out a preliminary study for the construction of a flyover at the busy Vazhuthacaud junction has raised hopes of commuters for a hassle-free ride along the stretch.
The Finance Minister has set aside Rs.1 crore for conducting a preliminary study.
With the sum in its kitty, the department can begin the process by preparing a detailed project report, which in all probability will be entrusted to a professional agency. The flyover will ease traffic congestion at the Vazhuthacaud junction and provide better connectivity to areas such as Jagathy, Thirumala, Edappazhanji, and Peyad.
Road users will like to see the process being expedited so that the city can have its third flyover at the earliest.
With the vehicle population burgeoning, flyovers in the city will ensure free flow of vehicles and a permanent solution to traffic jams, say road users.
