Solution for traffic snarls at Palarivattom in 4 days: Mayor

Kochi: With the heavy traffic at Palarivattom, caused by Metro works, continuing to plague commuters, the authorities decided to take urgent measures to resolve the issue. Various govt departments and agencies will make a coordinated effort to sort out the issue within four days.

Mayor V K Minimol, who visited the area on Wednesday, said she held talks with Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL), police and other agencies. Mayor said KMRL assured her the roadwork would be completed within four days and two-way traffic would be restored.

She said the major bottleneck is caused when vehicles from four different roads converge at the junction. Instructions have been given to restore the road to its original width and lay tiles. Since pillars are being built on both sides of the road, officials also directed that construction on the other side of the road should begin only after traffic is fully restored on the opposite side.

The mayor added that the culvert carrying water away from Palarivattom Junction was blocked, and efforts have begun to clear the obstruction. As a temporary measure, pipes were recommended, though she emphasised that a proper culvert must ultimately be built.

She also said traffic police were instructed to allow two-wheelers through the existing U-turn and to permit vehicles through that route during non-peak hours. Corporation will closely monitor the work to ensure it is completed on schedule, she added. Chairpersons of various standing committees of corporation T K Ashraf, Antony Painumthara and P M Naseema, corporation secretary P S Shibu, municipal officials, traffic police personnel and other people’s representatives also accompanied the mayor.

Later in the evening, a meeting chaired by the mayor was held in her chamber with KMRL officials, traffic police and corporation authorities to discuss immediate steps to ease the congestion. The municipality also assigned the assistant engineer and overseer to supervise the work and ensure timely completion.