KOCHI: The road stretch from Nedumbassery airport to Athani signal junction is being examined for safety improvements following the recent accident that killed three youngsters.
A high-level police team inspected the VIP Road stretch and identified accident-prone bends and U-turns, along with the need for better streetlighting, advanced speed-control systems and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.
The team reportedly directed Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) to look into measures needed to improve road safety. Further action will be decided based on the joint inspection report, CIAL airport director Manu Gopalakrishna Pillai said.
“The report will determine the course of action, including whether the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (Natpac) or the state government will be involved. CIAL will follow up on the recommendations,” he said.
Nedumbassery panchayat president Jessy George said accidents were frequent on the VIP Road stretch from Athani signal, citing the absence of adequate traffic controls and sharp bends as major concerns.
“Vehicles from both the Angamaly-Aluva and Chengamanad-Aluva routes merge at Athani junction, but the signal does not regulate their movement by allowing traffic from each direction to pass in turns. This needs to be examined and corrective action taken,” she said.
Jessy also pointed to the sharp bends along VIP Road, warning that they could be particularly dangerous to speeding motorists. The sharp turns make it harder to control vehicles at high speeds, increasing the risk of accidents.