The Thiruvananthapuram City police have come up with a revised traffic management plan to overcome the traffic congestion near Jagathy and Poojappura. The move comes in the wake of local opposition against the traffic reforms introduced earlier on an experimental basis.
The initial plan to enforce one-way traffic along the Jagathy-DPI-Vazhuthacaud stretch for all vehicles had to be scrapped owing to protests from those heading for the office of the Director of Public Instruction (DPI), other government offices, and hospitals in the area. Parents were also critical of the reform as school buses have also to be diverted.
Buses to be diverted
The police have now decided to impose one-way traffic for KSRTC buses proceeding to Kattakada and beyond. As a result, super fast and fast passenger buses, which come from Vazhuthacaud Junction will have to turn left and proceed via SMC Junction, Cotton Hill and Edappazhinji. The buses which are headed for Kattakada can proceed along the Pangode-Thirumala route.
The decision was taken at a meeting convened by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order, Traffic) A. Aadhithya recently. Representatives of various residents associations and traders took part in the meeting.
According to Mr. Aadhithya, light motor vehicles, school buses, and KSRTC ordinary and private buses plying in the city will not be affected by the traffic regulation. “During the trial run, we found that permitting cars and two-wheelers from Vazhuthacaud Junction to Jagathy via DPI did not make much of a difference,” he said.
He added that steps were being taken to ensure that the employees of the DPI office and the Cooperative Department headquarters were not affected by the regulation and were provided adequate bus services during the peak hours.
Residents’ view
While extending their support for the efforts, residents’ associations expressed doubts over the outcome. Poojappura Unniraja Residents Association president G. Radhakrishnan said a long-lasting solution to traffic snarls could be attained only by widening the Jagathy-Poojappura road.
