Kochi: A huge traffic snarl has brought the Kundannoor area in Kochi to a standstill for nearly three hours. The traffic to and fro between Vytilla and Aroor have been hit due to this. The situation worsened as no police officers were deployed in the area to control the traffic.
The traffic along the Vyttila-Tripunitura road also has been hit.
This huge traffic snarl along one of the city's most important roads arose with the commencement of the road maintenance work after an ultimatum from the District Collector.
District Collector S Suhas had asked to issue show-cause notice to those officers who did not start the repair works on the roads. Soon after this, the maintenance works were started. Around 45 roads within the city and in the nearby areas have to be immediately repaired. The Collector warned of strict action if no measures were taken by the departments concerned to better the condition of the roads within two weeks.
The Public Works Department (PWD), Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), National Highway Authority, Cochin Corporation, Kochi Metro, Roads and Bridges Development Corporation, and Cochin Refineries Ltd were asked to take immediate action. The notices were sent to those officials, who were found to be lax on the matter.
The Kerala High Court had taken a suo moto case over the pathetic roads in Kochi on Thursday. The HC bench comprising Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice A K Jayasankaran Nambiar has also instructed to make Cochin Corporation a party to the case.
Justice Devan Ramachandran in a letter had pointed out the pitiful condition of the roads, and said it was worse than last year. Based on this letter, the Chief Justice ordered for the case to be taken.