Steps sought to address traffic congestion in Kochi

Ernakulam ranks 50th globally in traffic congestion due to narrow roads, encroachments, and lack of public transport infrastructure.

The recent ranking of Ernakulam as 50th globally in traffic congestion is due to narrow roads, poorly planned junctions, encroachments, and haphazard parking, according to urban planners and road safety experts.

The city also missed out on road-widening projects under the City Roads Improvement Programme (CRIP), which were carried out in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode nearly two decades ago.

Ernakulam ranked 50th in traffic congestion on the TomTom Traffic Index, which evaluated 500 cities across 62 countries based on average travel time and congestion levels. According to the index, commuters in the city take an average of 28.30 minutes to travel 10 km, with 88 hours lost annually during rush hours.

Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Pune rank second, third, and fourth in traffic congestion, with motorists taking 34.33 minutes, 34.10 minutes, and 33.22 minutes, respectively, to cover 10 km. The time lost annually in these cities is quantified at 110 hours, 117 hours, and 108 hours, respectively.

Expert member of the Kerala Road Safety Authority Upendra Narayanan attributed the worsening congestion in Ernakulam to inadequate road infrastructure, compounded by the lack of public transport in many residential and commercial areas.

“This has led to an increase in private vehicles on already-congested roads. It’s time for civic and other agencies to develop an action plan to optimise road capacity, as making the most of every square centimetre of the carriageway is crucial. The 16-km-long Edapally-Aroor NH 66 Bypass is a prime example, with vast stretches of land along service roads left unused while the highway remains overcrowded.”

Mr. Narayanan pointed out that road-owning agencies must regularly evict encroachments, while police and Motor Vehicles department personnel should conduct continuous patrols, as in other metros, and deploy recovery vans to remove haphazardly parked vehicles. He also said that the Kochi Corporation must stop issuing licences to vendors who block roads and footpaths, and ensure that all buildings provide adequate parking to prevent roadside parking. Besides, he added that bus bays should be constructed on all arterial roads to prevent traffic hold-ups at bus stops.