Traffic signals flicker as accidents rise

KOCHI: Though the number of road accidents and traffic blocks in Kochi has increased, authorities are yet to repair faulty traffic signals to ensure a proper traffic flow. In 2011, a total of 561 accidents were reported in the city and 110 happened at busy junctions. Though district administration had devised a Rs 3 crore project to upgrade the city's traffic systems in December, the project has not materialized. District collector P I Sheik Pareeth said the administration had submitted this proposal to the road safety authority and they have not replied so far."Our plan is to implement the project in association with the motor vehicles department, traffic police, road safety authority and residents' associations. Once we get approval, traffic systems in the city will be revamped. We are planning to set up an automated traffic system," Pareeth said. We expect the project would be approved at the earliest, he added. Meanwhile, defunct traffic signals have contributed to traffic snarls in the city, especially during peak hours. Recently, the city had to face a major traffic block as signals at Kaloor and Palarivattom stopped functioning. "Signals at major junctions like Madhava Pharmacy and High Court are not functioning properly. As a result, most of us get stuck in traffic jams and reach office late," said Anil Kumar, who commutes on this route everyday.A senior police official said traffic signals need to be shut for maintenances and traffic wardens will be on duty. "It is obvious that there will be traffic chaos when wardens are controlling because the process is not synchronized at all junctions. The situation is worse when power cuts happen because we don't have any backup options," he said.