One-way traffic between Kankanady and Pumpwell for four months from February 15

Traffic between Kankanady and Pumpwell will be diverted for four months from Sunday to facilitate the Public Works Department to take up road upgradation project between Pumpwell Junction (officially called Bhagavan Mahaveer Circle) and Karavali Junction in Kankanady.

The traffic diversion will be in force till June 15, 2026. There will be one-way movement of traffic from Karavli Junction to Pumpwell Junction, while traffic from Pumpwell Junction to Karavali Junction will not be allowed. They will have to ply on the Old Kankanady Road (adjacent to Father Muller Hospital Compound) to reach Kankanady Junction.

In a February 14 order notifying one-way movement of traffic, Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said outbound city buses would continue to use Karavali Junction-Pumpwell Junction Road as it is now, inbound city buses to State Bank of India area would have to use Old Kankanady Road.

To avoid vehicular congestion during the period, parking on both the sides of Old Kankanady- Pumpwell Junction Road, Karavali Junction – Kankanady Junction Road, Kankanady Junction-Falnir Highland Hospital Road, and Karavali Junction – Balmatta Road have been banned.

Vehicles coming to the city from Thokkottu and Ullal have to use the alternative road through Mahakalipadpu Railway Under Pass. Heavy vehicles, including KSRTC buses and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses heading towards KSRTC bus stand in Bejai have to proceed straight from Pumpwell Junction to Nantoor Junction.

KSRTC buses coming from B.C.Road to the city will have to head to Nanthoor Junction on the national highway via Padil Junction and will have to head towards KSRTC bus stand in Bejai via Shivabagh, Balmatta, Ambedkar Circle and Bunts Hostel.

The motorists have to bear with traffic congestion and abide by the directions of the city police, Mr. Reddy said.

The PWD will upgrade the asphalt road between Karavali Junction and Pumpwell as concrete road at an estimated cost of ₹ 4 crore. The project was sanctioned in 2020.

The work includes laying a 7-metre wide concrete road on both the sides with a 1-metre wide median in between. Construction of pavement and concrete shoulder drains were not in the scope of work. The 1-metre dia main water supply line from Thumbe running beneath the road will not be shifted owing to huge cost, according to PWD officials.

The PWD would first take up work on the up-lane, from Pumpwell Junction to Karavali Junction stretch. Before that, MCC would have to shift the existing underground drainage line. The MCC would also have to shift other utility lines and lay service lines for Jalasiri water supply. With alignment of the road getting changed after concreting, the street light poles might also have to be shifted.