Date:02/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/02/stories/2008120258420300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Two-way traffic soon on VJT-LMS stretch

Staff Reporter

Only up to War Memorial in the initial stage

Four bus bays, four traffic signal junctions to be developed along the stretch
Thirty-five cents of land to be acquired from the AG’s office compound

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After considerable delay, two-way traffic along the VJT-LMS stretch of MG Road is likely to be introduced by the end of this year. According to officials of the Public Works Department, preparatory works are in progress to meet the fresh deadline.

“The installation of traffic signals and construction of traffic islands along the stretch got delayed for various reasons. We now believe that these works may be completed by the end of this month,” a senior official at the Department told The Hindu.

Two-way traffic along the VJT-LMS stretch will spare motorists from having to circumvent Asan Square on their way to the LMS junction. The new traffic system will also enable two-way traffic in front of the Legislative Assembly complex and Hotel Mascot.

However, because of apprehensions expressed by the city traffic police, two-way traffic will be allowed only till the War Memorial in the initial stage. The traffic police had contested that allowing two-way traffic up to Rama Rao (RR) Lamp might lead to confusion at the LMS junction. To avoid this, two-way traffic will be extended to RR Lamp only after watching the traffic flow up to War Memorial for some weeks.

As many as four bus bays and four traffic signal junctions will have to be developed along the stretch before two-way traffic is introduced. The traffic signal junctions are to come up at the RR Lamp junction, War Memorial, Martyrs’ Column and VJT Hall junction. The new bus bays will be constructed near the University College Men’s Hostel, opposite the hostel, opposite Palayam St. Joseph’s Church and near the Saphalyam Complex at Palayam.

CRIP works

The works undertaken under the City Road Improvement Project (CRIP) also include modification of traffic islands at War Memorial junction and VJT Hall junction and construction of footpaths on either side of the stretch. The final surfacing of the road from LMS to VJT Hall will be done before commissioning of two-way traffic.

However, the construction of footpath in front of Palayam St. Joseph’s Cathedral will require acquisition of around three cents of land from the cathedral compound. The Thiruvananthapuram Development Agency (Trida) has initiated land acquisitions proceedings for the purpose after talks with the Cathedral officials regarding voluntary land surrender failed.

Land acquisition

Trida secretary B. Dileep Kumar also said that the State government would soon be issuing an order for acquisition of around 35 cents of land from the Accountant General’s (AG’s) office compound for widening MG Road from VJT Hall to East Fort. The AG’s office land acquisition issue was settled after Trida agreed to provide a rear entrance for the AG’s office from Punnen Road. Steps to acquire around 13.5 cents of private property near the Muthoot Plaza Hotel and Tandem training centre for the purpose have also been initiated. The land acquisition process is expected to be complete in two months.

The State government has also released Rs.5.5 lakh for construction of a compound wall and shifting of cables in front of the BSNL office at Statue. Around two cents of land from the BSNL office compound will be acquired for road widening. However, efforts to acquire the land housing the Ujjaini Mahakali Temple near Ayurveda College remain deadlocked.

Trida officials also said that land acquisition along the Peroorkada-Vazhayila and Attakulangara-Injackal corridors had been completed.