Police to seek Natpac's help on less utilized roads

KOCHI : In a move to ease traffic congestion in Kochi city, police have decided to seek technical assistance of the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (Natpac) to identify underutilized roads here.
Natpac, a state-government run institution equipped with expertize and manpower to resolve traffic and transportation problems, reportedly is ready to carry out the study and give a report to the police, said senior police officers.
According to them, over a dozen well-maintained roads in Kochi city are underutilized. The new move has come after choked roads continue to be a headache for police as well as commuters.
The police said the study by Natpac would help to identify underutilized roads in Kochi city that could be utilized further to ease congestions on other roads. Kochi city DCP Arul R B Krishna said that the decision to approach Natpac was made as no more options were left to decongest city roads that are crowded with vehicles during peak hours.
“Several city roads in good condition are underutilized. Once identified, these roads can be linked with main stretches for traffic diversions during peak hours. Though this might reflect an increase in travel time, congestions can be resolved to an extent.The whole idea behind the initiative is to reduce traffic snarls by right use of existing roads,“ said Krishna.
According to the official, some of the roads in the city named after prominent personalities are well maintained but underuti lized. “Such roads, over a dozen identified by the police, are used by barely 1,000 vehicles a day. Justice Krishna Iyer Road is an example. We have written to Natpac and hope that they will render their expertise,“ he said.
Natpac director B G Sreedevi said that they were yet to get request from the police on the initiative.
Sreedevi said that Natpac would render its assistance and expertize on receiving the letter from the police.
She added that Natpac is currently doing a study for the Kochi police to trace accident spots in Kochi.
Recently, the police had introduced traffic regulations at Edappally, Vyttila and Edappally-Palarivattom bypass.
Though autorickshaw drivers and a few members of the public were against the regulation, the new changes resulted in free flow of vehicles through the highway.