KOCHI: With the Seaport-Airport Road turning into a death trap for pedestrians and commuters alike, the district administration has finally prepared an action plan to develop the highly congested road into an accident-free zone.
District Collector K Mohammed Y Safirulla, who is also the chairman of the District Road Safety Council, has zeroed in on four major factors to enable the transformation.
The move follows three deaths and 25 injuries from 27 accidents reported on the road this year alone.
Potholes, uneven surface, lack of road markings and street lights, and hazardous movement of goods carriers and other heavy vehicles are the chief causes for turning the road into a death trap. A recent inspection by the police and the Motor Vehicles Department also found the unscientific shoulders of the road caused accidents. Express had highlighted the issue through a report - titled 'Seaport-Airport Road: The highway to hell' - which appeared on May 14.
According to the District Collector, the enforcement of traffic in the area will be given top priority.
"Directions have been given to the Traffic Police and the Motor Vehicles Department to deploy officers at each junction on the stretch to control overspeeding. During peak hours, the enforcement wing of MVD will be deployed to nab traffic violators," Safirulla said.
The Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala (RBDCK) has been directed to complete the maintenance work along the stretch.
"Some potholes on the stretch are also causing accidents. RBDCK has been given a strict direction to fill those potholes. Work on the stretch will begin soon," he said.
The District Collector also said a letter seeking to expedite the widening of the Seaport-Airport Road will be submitted to the government."Since the expansion project is vested with the government, the district administration has some restrictions in this regard.
However, a letter will be submitted to the government seeking to expedite the widening of the Seaport-Airport Road. As a major portion of the road has a single lane, the possibility of accidents is high. We hope the government will take a quick decision on the Detailed Project Report submitted earlier," he said.
New traffic arrangements on the anvil
Having already brought in traffic regulations at the Civil Station Junction, the District Collector is also planning additional traffic diversion in the area. "We are getting positive responses from the public about the recent traffic regulations at the Civil Station Junction. To make the whole stretch an accident-free zone, we are planning to bring in more traffic regulations during peak hours," he said.
Meeting of stakeholders next week
The District Collector will convene a meeting of all government agencies, including the police, MVD, RBDCK, PWD, local body officials and NGOs next week as part of turning the road into an accident-free zone. "The meeting will further discuss any other measure to be taken in this regard. The different agencies will be responsible to carry out the plan and the progress will be reviewed later," Safirulla said.