Police, MVD inform SHRC of steps taken to address traffic woes in Kochi city

The Kochi City police and the Motor Vehicles department (MVD) on Tuesday informed the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) about the various steps being taken to address the road safety issues and traffic concerns in Kochi city.

The police submitted a report listing the steps taken to fix the faulty traffic signals at Thevara ferry and Kadavanthra Junction as well as to decongest the worsening traffic situation at Vyttila Junction.

“We have informed the Commission that the Kochi Corporation has sanctioned ₹1,0,7000 to fix the signal lights at Thevara ferry Junction and that Cochin Smart Mission Limited has agreed to pay a sum of ₹2.5 lakh to Keltron for the repair works on the traffic signal system at Kadavanthra. On the situation in Vyttila, we have apprised the Commission of the plan to decongest the junction using a government fund of ₹1.5 crore,” a senior police officer said.

The MVD, according to sources, informed the commission of its ongoing actions to address the frequent complaints against private buses, including reckless driving.

The MVD sources said over 20 buses were booked recently for violating speed limit within the city. The department also informed the Commission that it was taking proactive steps to address the complaints against the bus services on Chittoor-Cheranalloor Road and North Paravur-Vyttila stretch.

The MVD told the Commission that it has started deploying officials in plainclothes aboard buses to detect violations and has been conducting joint inspections with the police and Excise.

The MVD said that on Monday alone, it generated e-challan against 66 private buses which were found to have violated traffic rules. The fitness certificate of a bus was cancelled and legal action was initiated against two bus operators who failed to conduct services during the one-day enforcement drive conducted by a special squad of the Regional Transport Office.

SHRC Chairperson Alexander Thomas sought reports from the government agencies on cases registered by it suo motu based on various media reports.