Date:13/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/13/stories/2008101351100300.htm

Kerala - Kozhikode

Residents complain against traffic reform

Staff Reporter

No way: A no-entry board put up by the traffic police to enforce one-way traffic on MCC Cross Road in the city.

Kozhikode: Residents of the Kiliyanad residential area and several other housing colonies have complained against a traffic reform introduced by the city traffic police at Malabar Christian College (MCC) Cross Road in September. It has been causing severe hardships to commuters from different areas of the city, they said.

The office-bearers of residents associations in S.V. Colony, Jawahar Colony, Rajeeve Nagar Colony and those residing at the Infant Christ area have submitted a complaint in this regard to Police Commissioner Anup Kuruvilla John.

It said those residing at Kiliyanad and several other areas had to go around Nadakkavu to enter Muthappan Kavu Road due to a ban on left-turn of vehicles at MCC Cross Road, to Rajendra Nursing Home area.

“Thousands of people residing in this area losing time and money as a result of this reform,” the complaint said.

According to them, the reform was introduced during the Onam season to control the heavy rush of vehicles from area. “But this was not reverted even weeks after the Onam festival,” the residents said. Due to the absence of bus services here, autorickshaws are the only option for most residents. “But, the one-way system has made it a very costly affair,” they said.

According to them, when a similar reforms was introduced earlier, it was brought to the attention of the then Police Commissioner Balram Kumar Upadhya at a residents’ meeting held at the Police Club.

The ban was then restricted to peak hours (8.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.) The complaint sought immediate action to ‘save the people from difficulties.’