Trouble in ‘park’ avenue

Illegal parking in front of EMC hassles motorists

March 05, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 05:47 am IST

the 'easy' way in:A portion of the sidewall of the bus stop in front of Ernakulam Medical Centre has been pulled down to make it easier for two-wheelers to access the service road and bypass the U-turn on the highway.— Photo: H. Vibhu

the 'easy' way in:A portion of the sidewall of the bus stop in front of Ernakulam Medical Centre has been pulled down to make it easier for two-wheelers to access the service road and bypass the U-turn on the highway.— Photo: H. Vibhu

Parking has been a perennial problem of the city long before the Kochi Metro works got underway. But the difficulty faced by motorists in front of Ernakulam Medical Centre on NH-47 cannot be blamed on Kochi Metro. For, it has a lot to do with motorists who are insensitive to the right to movement of others.

The service road in front of the hospital that runs parallel to the national highway is narrow and with vehicles parked on the kerb, navigating through this space is a tough task. Though there is a pay-and-park facility right next to the hospital, many motorists park on the side road, obstructing traffic along the stretch. To add to this, the autorickshaw stand is also on the side road, further eating into it the space available for motorists.

With direct access to the hospital from the highway being closed, ambulances rushing with patients also have to depend on the service road, making the illegal parking a major hassle. Standing mute witness to the mayhem is a no parking board and, at times, a traffic warden.

If parking trouble has been caused mostly by four-wheelers and three-wheelers, two-wheelers have also done their part to make the situation along this stretch worse.

A portion of the sidewall of the bus stop in front of the hospital has been pulled down to make it easier for two-wheelers to access the service road and bypass the U-turn just a few metres ahead.

While convenient, this easy access puts two-wheeler drivers highly vulnerable to accidents as they directly enter the path of unsuspecting drivers out of nowhere.

“It’s a disaster waiting to happen. One of these days, these narrow escapes will turn into a tragedy. Till then, no one will take notice,” said Job, a retired government servant who regularly moves along the stretch.

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