KOCHI:A death trap for pedestrians, that's what the Rajaji Road has now turned out to be. Despite repeated campaigns to curb the illegal parking along this stretch, leading from the busy MG Road to KSRTC Bus Stand, the authorities who are tasked with conducting a crackdown on the illegal parking are not taking the matter seriously.
“We are forced to walk along the main road braving the speeding vehicles. Sometimes, we feel that we are walking a tightrope. Those who are meant to protect us are not giving any seriousness to our plight,” said Karthika, student at a private institution. Local people point out that though the road has ample width, the illegal parking is forcing pedestrians to step on to the main road.
Rajaji Road is the only stretch that connects MG Road to KSRTC Bus Stand and to the Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road. As a result, the traffic is heavy here and to make matters worse, the work on Metro Rail is progressing at a snail's pace. With 15-20 buses plying along the stretch every five minutes, the authorities are waiting for a disaster to happen, allege locals.