KMRL initiates measures to ease traffic congestion along Phase II Kochi metro corridor

Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has said that it has initiated steps to ease traffic congestion and commuter inconvenience along the Phase II metro corridor between Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and Palarivattom. The city has been experiencing heavy traffic snarls during the past few weeks. Intermittent rain, reduced carriageway, and civil works along road stretches have slowed down vehicular movement. Traffic snarls have also affected bylanes. Long queues of vehicles could be seen along the Edappally-Vyttila segment and the Palarivattom-Kaloor stretch. Traffic along interior roads was also hit for the past few days during peak hours. In a statement issued on Thursday, KMRL said the installation of new water supply pipelines had recently been completed as part of the ongoing metro work. The utility shifting activity required trenching and road cutting at several locations along the corridor. Road restoration works are under way on all affected stretches between Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and Palarivattom following the completion of pipeline installation, and they are scheduled to be completed by June 6, according to a communication. KMRL has acknowledged the difficulties experienced by commuters, particularly in view of the ongoing monsoon rains, which have further impacted traffic movement in certain locations. It is working in close coordination with the traffic police, Regional Transport Office, and other stakeholders to address the challenges on a priority basis, it said. To facilitate the safe and speedy completion of restoration works, temporary traffic restrictions will be imposed only during off-peak hours in consultation with the traffic police. Special traffic management measures are also being implemented at Palarivattom during daytime to improve vehicle flow and reduce delays, according to the release. The agency said it had accelerated the restoration of the service road connecting the rear side of JLN Stadium metro station to Vasanth Nagar in response to concerns raised by local residents. Efforts are also under way, in coordination with the traffic police, to provide a dedicated U-turn facility for residents of Vasanth Nagar, thereby improving local accessibility and reducing travel inconvenience, said the release. It has directed its contractor, AFCONS, and project officials to maintain continuous monitoring of all worksites, promptly resolve issues on the ground, and take all necessary measures to ensure the smooth flow of traffic. Dedicated teams have been deployed to closely monitor traffic conditions and coordinate corrective actions wherever required, it said.