The SN and Puthenpally Junctions on National Highway 17 are nightmares for walkers with significant increase in vehicular traffic between Ernakulam and Paravur.
President of Paravur Taluk Residents’ Associations’ Apex Council R. Vishwambharan Nair said that with schools set to reopen next week, the rush on the road will increase and movement of pedestrians will become more unsafe.
The Apex Council was instrumental in organising an evening gathering of concerned citizens recently to draw the attention of the authorities to the situation.
President of Varappuzha Panchayat Mercy Johny said that the SN Junction would soon get a traffic signalling system. Estimate for the work is ready and preliminary works have started, she said.
She also said that the National Highways Authority would soon begin work on widening the access ramps running in the east-west direction crossing the highway.
The westerly ramp leads to Varappuzha town and the one on the opposite direction leads to Mannanthuruth ferry.
\The sides of the ramps would be raised to provide space for pedestrian use.
Mr. Nair said that setting up a traffic blinker at the junction would be enough to help slow down the vehicles going to and from Ernakulam. At the same time, it was necessary to shift the bus stops on both sides of the national highway to make it more safe for pedestrians and commuters, he said. A member of the Varappuzha panchayat said that the Puthenpally Junction, slightly to the north of SN Junction, too posed similar problems for pedestrians. The opening of a new access to Kottuvally and Paravur via Thirumuppam created problems for pedestrians trying to cross the national highway.
Bridging gaps for
75 years
It literally holds its head high over the Periyar and provides a vital connection between the Southern and Northern parts of Kerala.
Come June 14, the iconic Marthanda Varma bridge in Aluva will complete 75 years of its existence.
As the name indicates, the bridge was commissioned by Marthanda Varma Ilayaraja, ruler of the erstwhile Travancore state on June 14, 1940 and the structure has an emblem of the kingdom embossed on it. Established to promote trade and business, the structure was constructed at a cost of Rs 8 lakh by the JB Gammon and company. The structure, with a carriage way of 5.5 metres is supported by three arches on both its sides, apart from the pillars built of granite. A feature of the bridge is the huge shock-absorber springs at six locations under its deck, which are still functional.
In view of the rising traffic along the stretch, the authorities constructed a 141-metre long bridge parallel to it in 2002.
The new bridge, with a carriage way of 7.5-metre and 1.5 metre wide foot paths, was set up at a cost of around Rs. 7 crore.
But even this new bridge has failed to take the sheen off this historic structure, which stands a testimony to the engineering expertise of older times.
K.A. Martin and
Hiran Unnikrishnan
