The State government must urgently intervene as acute traffic congestion at Vyttila Junction due to the flyover construction undertaken by the Public Works Department (NH Wing) is unprecedented, P.T. Thomas, MLA, has said.
Speaking at the launch of the trial run of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation’s electric bus at the Vyttila Mobility Hub here on Saturday, he said that traffic snarls in a few places near the construction sites of a mega project like the Kochi metro rail project paled in comparison with those at Vyttila Junction where a 700-metre-long flyover is under construction.
A matter of concern
“Massive pile-up of vehicles around the biggest junction in Kerala can even bring the whole State to a standstill,” said Mr. Thomas, who had raised submissions on the issue in the Assembly.
“Archaic” work-site management by the Public Works Department has resulted in potholed and slushy roads, obstructing smooth and safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians at the junction, he added.
‘Expert views’
In his address on the occasion, K.V. Thomas, MP, said that the Public Works Department should have sought the advice of Metroman E. Sreedharan who had ensured that preparatory work like development of roads and bridges was done in the Aluva-Pettah corridor before piling began for the Kochi metro project.
Kundannoor
The situation is similar at Kundannoor Junction, which has also been barricaded for flyover work. The two flyover projects are worsening snarls in the entire city, Mr. Thomas said.
Meanwhile, Minister for Education C. Ravindranath said the government would take remedial measures immediately.
Even as snarls lessened on the Palarivattom side of Vyttila Junction in the past two days, it remained much the same on the Aroor side, owing to huge potholes and delay in integrating the service road with the NH Bypass.
