Heavy vehicles flouting traffic rules is a common sight on city roads nowadays, and it is surprising that such blatant violations of norms escape the eyes of the city traffic police.
For instance, heavy vehicles openly break rules by taking the busy Puthiya Road-Vennala Junction stretch despite the traffic police setting up No Entry boards from 8 a.m to 8 p.m.
The traffic police decided to set up the boards after residents raised apprehensions over the stretch turning into a motorists’ nightmare following the sudden spurt in the number of heavy vehicles using the route. Traffic has literally gone haywire, as most vehicles prefer the route to reach Kakkanad, skipping the busy Palarivattom-Kakkanad stretch that touches upon Chembumukku and Padamugal.
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Long queues of vehicles are a common sight on the 5-km-long stretch, which is owned by the Public Works Department, especially during peak hours. This is in addition to traffic congestion in areas where the road turns narrow. The situation is worse at bellmouths of junctions in the corridor.
Autorickshaw drivers who use the route blame the authorities for acting in favour of real estate groups who own projects along the stretch.
“The police do not take action against violators. Moreover, there is no police patrol in the region during peak hours, and it enables heavy vehicles to have a free run. This happens at a time when the authorities have banned heavy vehicles from 8 a.m to 8 p.m on the stretch,” they said.
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