Faced with the prospect of traffic snarls in the city worsening due to narrow, non-existent, or encroached upon free-left turns at junctions, the Traffic Regulatory Committee (TRC) has decided to take up the matter at its monthly meeting in November, it is learnt.
This comes in the wake of complaints from road users and enforcement personnel about the Public Works department (PWD), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and civic agencies failing to ensure unhindered free left turns at junctions on arterial and other roads. The worst part is that traffic police cabins obstruct free left turns and footpaths at many junctions. The Tripunithura Rajanagari Union of Residents Association (TRURA) had earlier this year demanded wider bell mouths and free left turns on Pettah-SN Junction road that was renovated by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) as part of the metro’s Thripunithura extension.
The TRC in its October sitting had expressed angst at haphazard parking causing traffic snarls and accidents. The body has the Mayor, chairman of the Kochi Corporation’s Town Planning Standing Committee, Fort Kochi Revenue Divisional Officer, two Assistant Commissioners of Police (traffic police) and officials representing the Motor Vehicles department (MVD), PWD, Kerala State Electricity Board and the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) as stakeholders.
