Kochi | Roads, Bridges, Flyovers & Highways

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by DileepKS

No one is going to walk! I see everyday people take their cars (yes, they do pool) to lunch, when they go to the eatery less than a km away. I live at a place closer to work than my school used to be from my village home, to which I walked every day. But would I walk to work? I don't think so.

Might be true !!!! Often its circumstances + opportunities makes novel projects success..... In a prefect disciplined city having multiple public transport options which all keeping its schedules along with enough parking and congestion free roads, no-one requires any additional means/methods of reaching places....

But in a city, where congestion is order of the day, where public transport is inadequate and where number of roads/ways to reach a place is limited coupled with parking problems, we may have to think several alternatives.

Even 3 years back, I am sure, the concept of Puthran's Parking won't be success in the city. But today it has to be, because we have less ground for vehicles to park, naturally concepts like Puthran's Parking etc has to come up.....

I won't say, my idea is of top notch... But perhaps, it may be one of the thousands ways to solve the biggest puzzle/mystery, how to reach from Vytilla to Kakkanad in most easiest and less time consuming way......

Thanks for sharing your ideas here.....

[e_arunsid]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

Might be true !!!! Often its circumstances + opportunities makes novel projects success..... In a prefect disciplined city having multiple public transport options which all keeping its schedules along with enough parking and congestion free roads, no-one requires any additional means/methods of reaching places....

But in a city, where congestion is order of the day, where public transport is inadequate and where number of roads/ways to reach a place is limited coupled with parking problems, we may have to think several alternatives.

Even 3 years back, I am sure, the concept of Puthran's Parking won't be success in the city. But today it has to be, because we have less ground for vehicles to park, naturally concepts like Puthran's Parking etc has to come up.....

I won't say, my idea is of top notch... But perhaps, it may be one of the thousands ways to solve the biggest puzzle/mystery, how to reach from Vytilla to Kakkanad in most easiest and less time consuming way......

Thanks for sharing your ideas here.....

I dont think solution to kochis traffic problems is like mystery or puzzle..

Flyovers @ 4 junctions would solve traffic problems @ NH/NH bypass.Airport Seaport Road widening to 4-6 lane and extending it to Airport would further reduce the load on bypass. Goshree mamangalam road which is under construction is another solution as it will reduce the number of vehicles using banerjee road n noth over bridge to reach edappally. If these things are implemented and existing roads are made pothhole free we are safe.

[DileepKS]

IMVVHO, just paving the roads properly, ie proper carriageway, shoulder, median and sidewalk would fix more than half of the congestion problem to the CBD and surroundings.

Building flyovers at the four major junctions will fix the congestion problem at and around those junctions.

[e_arunsid]

Exactly Dileep..

Btw..During onam I happened to travel a lot in and around thrissur and found the roads to be 100 times better than that in Kochi..Streches like Thrissur-Triprayar. Vadanappilly-Thrissur etc were not wide but the quality of tarring was awesome. It was indeed a pleasure driving there.

[vu3nnn]

Just returned from a Bangalore-Mysore trip.

Took the NH 47 to Bangalore. Kochi-Trichur is good, but not completely pot-hole free. Small deep craters make high speed driving risky. Trichur-Palghat is a nightmare. Walayar-Avanashi, work is going on for 4-laning, but is still in better shape than Trichur-Palghat. Beyond Avanishi, it is a dream. Could touch 120 kmph with ease. If the entire stretch becomes such, Cochin-Bangalore is possible in 5 hours!

On the return direction, from Mysore, took the Gudalur-Nilambur-Trichur route. Mysore-Nilambur is in excellent condition. The road is single lane, but lack of traffic and the Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary makes drive a pleasure.

Nilambur-Perinthalmanna-Pattambi is HORRIBLE... much worse than any other road. Probably a reward by IUML to the people in the area for electing them

Pattambi-Shoranur-Trichur, though narrow is EXCELLENT.

and Trichur-Cochin side of NH 47 seems to be better than Cochin-Trichur side of NH 47.

[mohammedirshad06]

The trial traffic diversion, a precursor to the dismantling of the North railway overbridge (ROB) to facilitate the proposed construction of the Kochi Metro, passed off smoothly on Monday. While buses were allowed to pass through the ROB, light motor vehicles were diverted from Kaloor and Kacheripady junctions.

The trial run will be held till Wednesday to get a realistic assessment of the traffic disruptions that could happen during the demolition of the ROB. Despite the bad condition of roads, the authorities were able to divert traffic through alternate routes without much hassle.

"Though the Onam holidays are over, people are yet to get back to routine commute. In the coming days there will be more vehicles and commuters on the roads and then we will get a clear picture of the situation," said Kerala bus transport association secretary Suresh Oomen.

City dwellers who expected traffic snarls and chaos during the trial were cautious about using their private vehicles. "I was aware of the traffic deviation and knew that buses would pass through the North ROB. As I had to travel from Edapally to Thevara, I decided to take a bus. If I go by a two-wheeler, I will be forced to take the by lanes, which are in bad condition," said Geetha P Nair, a marketing executive with a city-based fitness centre.

Regardless of the inconvenience caused, commuters welcome the move to demolish the ROB and to construct a new one. "We need development and Kochi needs the metro rail. But, before introducing such alternate traffic arrangements, authorities should have repaired all the damaged roads. The movement of traffic would have been more fast and smooth. That would have cleared the bottle necks," said Betty, a chemist based at Kacheripady.

Even though the first day of the trial presented a picture of hassle-free movement of traffic, confusions existed at certain points like Pullepady ROB. Motorists who were heading towards Kathrikadavu from the KSRTC bus stand were diverted through M G Road. This led to heated arguments between the motorists and police personnel.

"I am denied entry to Pullepady through Chitoor Road. Now, I have to go all the way through M G Road and reach Kacheripady. From there I will have to proceed to Pachalam railway gate and go to Lisie junction to enter Kaloor-Kadvantara road to reach Kathrikadavu. The police have not considered these facts," said Ananthan, a businessman.

Apart from this, the toll-booth over the Pullepady ROB added to the chaos. Vehicles had to slow down and wait to pay toll. "Earlier it was said that the booth will not function while the traffic gets diverted. It is not about paying the toll, but if vehicles slow down, it can create traffic block," added Ananthan.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...ow/9962931.cms

[vu3nnn]

I am denied entry to Pullepady through Chitoor Road. Now, I have to go all the way through M G Road and reach Kacheripady. From there I will have to proceed to Pachalam railway gate and go to Lisie junction to enter Kaloor-Kadvantara road to reach Kathrikadavu. The police have not considered these facts," said Ananthan, a businessman.

Making both Chittoor Road and CP Ummer Road one-way will block off access to Puleppady. Only one of these two roads can be made one-way. But since only two-wheelers and autos are diverted, there is no real reason for any one ways. Simply ban parking on these roads and open up the Ambedkar Stadium for temporary parking.

Apart from this, the toll-booth over the Pullepady ROB added to the chaos. Vehicles had to slow down and wait to pay toll. "Earlier it was said that the booth will not function while the traffic gets diverted. It is not about paying the toll, but if vehicles slow down, it can create traffic block," added Ananthan.

The toll over Pulleppady ROB is simply not justified in the first place. The UDF themselves were in the forefront of the agitation to remove toll over this bridge when they were in the opposition.

Secondly, one of the possible unstated reasons for this circus of a diversion is to improve toll collection on Pulleppady ROB. Without proper access roads people are not patronizing this bridge, and one toll-contractor had earlier abandoned toll collection citing losses.

Trying to divert traffic through non-existent roads to boost revenues, if true is the handiwork of some sick and neurotic minds. (The Bund road between TP Road and St Francis Road through which West-East traffic goes is not a proper road - it is just a tarrred pathway to facilitate desilting of Perendoor Canal and the authorities have the audacity to try and make it the main road of Ernakulam!) Similarly St Francis Road, KrishnaSwamy Road and CP Ummer Road are all more of residential lanes rather than roads that can support main traffic.

[mohammedirshad06]

Come sunshine and Kochi's roads will look better. If everything goes as per plan, Kochi Metro Rail (KMRL) will need ten sunny days to complete road repair works and start dismantling the side bays of North railway over bridge (ROB).

Though KMRL had earlier announced that road repair works will be completed before September 12, the Metro had to step back due to heavy rains. KMRL, Managing Director, Tom Jose declared the trial traffic diversion a success. "We require two days of sunshine to start work. All equipment, machinery and labour are in place. On the third day we will start dismantling the bridge, which we will complete in 10 days," he said.

KMRL had agreed to repair 10 roads in the city before demolishing the bridge. This is to facilitate re-routing of traffic through alternate roads. The repair works will be carried out by Kerala State Construction Corporation. KMRL will spend about Rs 4 crore for this work.

KMRL has agreed to undertake repair works of Padma junction on MG Road to Chitoor Road, Azad Road, Pipeline Road from Karanakodam, Saint Benedict-Paramara Road and Rajaji Road. "We agreed to take up these works as the corporation expressed their inability to repair them," said Jose.

Earlier the Metro had agreed to repair Veekshanam Road, C P Ummer Road, Pullepady-Thammanam Road, Katrikadavu underpass and Pious X th Road.

KMRL had awarded an 18-month contract to pull down and reconstruct the ROB as part of preparatory works. "Though we have lost about four to five months, we hope to complete our work within the specified time," he added. Jose also said the proposed Kochi Metro project is yet to get Centre's approval. He is hopeful of getting the required approval before November.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...ow/9975998.cms

[Malayaali]

SA Road

Entering through Vytilla Jn











South ROB



Valanjambalam Jn

[rkpai13]

Flyover: Topic of the thread is Roads, Bridges, Flyovers and Highways. But in our city, there are no flyovers. Flyovers which we claim to be ours are actually built by NHAI as part of up-gradation of National Highways. That flyovers too are there from Angamali till Kalamassery. But when you come into the real city limits (Corporation limits) there are not at all any flyover.

Railway Over Bridge: For years together Ernakulam traffic managed itself with only two railway over bridge. Now in recent times two ROBs came up Kathrikadavu and Pullepady. But sadly at the juncture when 4 lane was a necessity only 2 lane was built.

Is this not the reason behind our major traffic problems?

[DileepKS]

Yes, most of it.

I said it before and will say again. just paving the road properly will fix the traffic in the city, and building flyovers at four junctions will fix the problem near them.

But who will bell the cat?

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by rkpai13

Flyover: Topic of the thread is Roads, Bridges, Flyovers and Highways. But in our city, there are no flyovers. Flyovers which we claim to be ours are actually built by NHAI as part of up-gradation of National Highways. That flyovers too are there from Angamali till Kalamassery. But when you come into the real city limits (Corporation limits) there are not at all any flyover.

Railway Over Bridge: For years together Ernakulam traffic managed itself with only two railway over bridge. Now in recent times two ROBs came up Kathrikadavu and Pullepady. But sadly at the juncture when 4 lane was a necessity only 2 lane was built.

Is this not the reason behind our major traffic problems?

See Who considers Kochi limited to the maps of Cochin Corporation prepared in 1960s? Even Central Government itself considers Cochin City right from Angamally in North East to Aroor in South to Udayamperoor in East to North Paravur in North .....

These all are essentially part of Greater Kochi and Kochi city has grown massively. Its true, our city lobbies, have played their part well, to keep many areas out of Corporation limits to evade higher Corporation tax. After all, we don't have govt employees or NGOs to pressurize for Metro allowances!!!!

Its doesn't matter who built the road and what part of road network is it, as long as its patronized by city traffic. Today NH Byepass or Edappally-Aluva stretch is patronized more by city traffic than highway/intercity traffic.....

Naturally they have the utility of a city road... Remember, untill early 1990s, even MG Road itself was part of National Highway 47.....

----------

Railway Overbridge: Its true, that post independence era, our govts became so narrow minded and less visioned, that they can never think anything beyond 5 year term.... We must remember, the modern 30m MC Road was built just to cater 10 to 15 motor vehicles registered in the Travancore state, during days of monarchy.... We are really helpless as Kerala lacks a qualitive leadership. Perhaps, I see Ommen Chandy might be first one, since independence, to talk about a development for a 10-20 year period.... Hence, its worthless to comment more on 2 lane....

2 lane roads are also okay, as even in London or New York, many roads are still 2 lane... But its never as pot-holed as in Kochi.... If the roads are repaired, atleast 60% of congestion will go off...........

[mohammedirshad06]

Buoyed by the success of traffic trial run, the city traffic police have decided to conduct a preliminary analysis of several byroads in the city to divert two-and-three wheelers once demolition of the North over bridge begins. Though various by roads between Chittoor Road, MG Road and Kaloor-Kathrikadavu Road have been used for traffic diversion, officials say there are some other byroads in the city which could be used judiciously.

City traffic assistant commissioner Muhammed Rafeeq said that a few more byroads are there in the stretch, which could be used by two-wheelers and three-wheelers to commute once the over bridge is demolished.

"We are contemplating a preliminary study which will enable us to identify the byroads which can be used by two-wheelers and three-wheelers. While some byroads could be used by two-wheelers alone, the other could be used by two-wheelers and three-wheelers. We have to look at various aspects like the width of the road and parking options on the road," the official said.

The city traffic police have been looking at various options to divert the two-wheeler and three-wheeler traffic from the North bridge after a one week study conducted ascertained that over 55 per cent of vehicles that ply on the bridge were two-wheelers and three-wheelers.

The assistant commissioner said that the traffic police have been able to identify certain aspects from the trial run which need to be addressed for the smooth flow of vehicles once the bridge is demolished.

"We noticed that movement of heavy vehicles mainly trucks through the by roads causing congestion. We will initiate a discussion with the authorities concerned to regulate their movement through these roads during peak hours. We will also have talks with the residents of the area to discourage them from parking their cars and other vehicles on the by roads when the traffic is heavy," the official said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...ow/9988020.cms

[manukarukail]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

2 lane roads are also okay, as even in London or New York, many roads are still 2 lane... But its never as pot-holed as in Kochi.... If the roads are repaired, atleast 60% of congestion will go off...........

2 lane roads are okay provided the whole road is 2 lane. but that's not the case in Kochi.. take for example South ROB.. the approach roads are four lane, but the bridge is two lane which is creating bottleneck. not only South ROB.. almost all ROBs in Kochi(like ROB on Kaloor Kathrikadavu road, new ROB at Edapally, Thammanam Pullepady ROB) are facing the same bottleneck issue.

Even a layman like me can understand that a narrow bridge can create bottleneck, but our town planners can't foresee it. kannadachu iruttakunnavar

[rkpai13]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

Its doesn't matter who built the road and what part of road network is it, as long as its patronized by city traffic. Today NH Byepass or Edappally-Aluva stretch is patronized more by city traffic than highway/intercity traffic.....

My point was not that who should built the flyover. Where the traffic problem really mattered there are no flyovers fo example: Edappally junction., Vytilla junction, Kundanoor junction, ICTT-NH 17 junction in national highways. In the junctions of main arteries of city like MG road , Shanmugham road, Banerjee road, SA Road nobody felt the need of flyovers. I feel flyovers are of more helpful than ROBs in junctions.

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

2 lane roads are also okay, as even in London or New York, many roads are still 2 lane... But its never as pot-holed as in Kochi.... If the roads are repaired, atleast 60% of congestion will go off...........

Kaloor - Kadavanthra road is 4 lane. and a ROB of 2 lane (Kathrikadavu ROB) will it not create a bottleneck like what we feel in Banerjee road from Kacheripady to Noth ROB. or like South ROB in SA Road (This can be excused as it was built years before). If 2 lane road was there and ROB also of 2 lane a bottleneck would not have happened

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by rkpai13

My point was not that who should built the flyover. Where the traffic problem really mattered there are no flyovers fo example: Edappally junction., Vytilla junction, Kundanoor junction, ICTT-NH 17 junction in national highways. In the junctions of main arteries of city like MG road , Shanmugham road, Banerjee road, SA Road nobody felt the need of flyovers. I feel flyovers are of more helpful than ROBs in junctions.

Its true, that flyovers are missing in major places you mentioned like Vytilla, Edappally... The biggest danger I sense will be at Edappally Junction, where India's largest Shopping Mall is coming up and expected to be the key center of Shopping tourism in future. Parking and traffic, will make a disaster in Edappally soon.

Anyway, always PWD has mooted the plans for 4 flyovers (grade separators) at 4 busy junctions of NH Bypess. Since the PWD minister is a Kochinite, I wish to believe in his words....

In few stretches like MG Road, Banerjee Road etc, where is the space to build a flyover? We live in a Business city and its business men who rule the city. Will they allow they prime land to be acquired at fair value? Can any govt pay money according to market rates for MG Road, the most costly piece of land in the state itself.....

Hence there is no question of imagining such a dream.... The only one, I see a small ray of hope/light is South Flyover, which is planned, when South ROB will be pulled down. The South Flyover aims to connect from Manorama Junction to Church Landing road, passing over rail line, Valanjambalam, MG Road to connect to Foreshore road. Still it has huge hurdles to jump.

In near future, the city's CBD would move to Byepass road. In such a circumstance, we can even consider making MG Road, a heritage walking shopping district on likes of Bangkok/Langawai Shopping districts.

Kaloor - Kadavanthra road is 4 lane. and a ROB of 2 lane (Kathrikadavu ROB) will it not create a bottleneck like what we feel in Banerjee road from Kacheripady to Noth ROB. or like South ROB in SA Road (This can be excused as it was built years before). If 2 lane road was there and ROB also of 2 lane a bottleneck would not have happened

If they had such a huge vision, where would Kerala be today.... We have to face harsh realities of our govt's poor vision and sightness

[rkpai13]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

In few stretches like MG Road, Banerjee Road etc, where is the space to build a flyover? We live in a Business city and its business men who rule the city. Will they allow they prime land to be acquired at fair value? Can any govt pay money according to market rates for MG Road, the most costly piece of land in the state itself.....

2.4 km long JJ Flyover near Mumbai CST station near to busiest Crawford Market (Now Dadaji Phoole Market, I guess) was built when there was not even space to walk.

When Asha Bonsle came against a flyover in front of her house by telling she has to leave Mumbai if such thing came up, Mumbaites were quick to respond by saying development of the city is important than the individual interests.

http://findarticles.com/p/news-artic.../ai_n54944133/

If we are dreaming of Kochi to be like a metro such things should happen.

Will power of the decision making body as well as the general public is required for any development.

[mohammedirshad06]

The civil line road which leads to Kakkanad, to the administrative headquarters of Ernakulam district, is choking with heavy rush of vehicles. The major reason for the traffic block is illegal parking and encroachment on the roadsides. The authorities have still not taken any action to resolve the issue.

The Palarivattom - Chembumukku road, also known as the Civil Line road, is a testing stretch during peak hour traffic. A year ago, the Ayyanatt Bridge in Chembumukku was widened to reduce traffic, but this has not helped solve the issue. The locals are now blaming the authorities for not finding a solution.

"There are a lot of illegal encroachments on the roadsides as many shopkeepers have managed to extend their shops with the support of local politicians. The authorities have not been doing anything at all," said Rajeevan, a resident in Chembumukku. "On most days, I reach office late due to the traffic block. To whom should we complain?" he asked.

Meanwhile, the authorities who are to resolve this issue, are putting the blame on the public. "People coming to the Chembumukku market and various shops, park their vehicles on both sides of the roads. For their own convenience, they are ignoring the convenience of others," said Baby Vinod, Traffic assistant commissioner.

Though there have been efforts from the Public Works Departments to remove the encroachments, it made no change in the situation as the encroachers had the support of the local political parties. According to P I Muhammadali, Thrikkakara municipal chairman, it is the traffic police who should find a solution to the traffic issues in the area. He also said that the encroachments are illegal, but the authorities are reluctant to take any action.

As the authorities and public play the blame-game, only one question remains: who will find a solution to the traffic problems along the Civil Line road?

Though there have been efforts from the Public Works Dept to remove the encroachments, it made no change in the situation as the encroachers had the support of the local political parties.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/10000556.cms

[DileepKS]

Well, that road carries enough traffic to fill a 4 lane highway.

It is easy to complain about parking, but what should be done with the cars? Carry it on one's head into the shop? It is easy to put No Parking boards throughout, but when it comes to provide parking,no one cares because it is difficult.

THEN, the same people put their flags in front of Reliance, blocking half of their parking space, and put banner on the same flagpoles complaining about parking menace!!

Another problem is the potholes at Padamughal. The main cause of block these days is them. If you pave the road properly, and provide sidewalk and shoulder, most of the problems will go away.

[mohammedirshad06]

With the Kochi Corporation paying the first installment of the amount due to the contractors, the chances have brightened for road repair work under Plan Fund to be completed in a time-bound manner.

The Corporation authorities paid Rs 5 crore to the contractors association the other day. The contractors were also promised Rs 10 crore. The amount would be released before September 30.

According to the contractors, the civic authorities owe them around Rs 26 crore till January 2011.

Mayor Tony Chammany handed over the amount to the contractors. The Corporation contractors were on a strike for three months demanding the payment of the arrears.

As a result, the Corporation was not able to complete the repair work of the roads before monsoon. Later, the association called off the strike following the assurance given by the Mayor that the first installment would be paid before Onam.

“If the authorities keep their word, we have no objection in undertaking the work. The amount of Rs 5 crore that they have paid now is for the work done and bills claimed in 2009. If they do not pay the next installments soon, the contractors will not be in a financial position to complete the work in a timely manner,” said an office-bearer of the Kochi Corporation Contractors Association.

However, the Corporation is planning to complete the patch work on the roads once the rain stops.

The civic body hopes to pay the total due amount to the contractors before January 2012, when the tenders for the work under the Plan Fund would be floated.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kochi-roa...56-60-122.html