One-way roads and parking spaces will be altered in Kochi soon. With the Zonal Transport Authority (ZTA) approving this initiative of the Traffic Police authorities’, it shall soon be implemented in Kochi city. The parking spaces and one way routes (which exist now) will be re-categorized.

Main roads in the city including Veekshanam Road, Sreekandathu Road, and Jew Street Road etc. are some of the roads that will undergo these changes. You will also find no parking signs in certain parts of the city which includes St. Alberts Road, Old Railway Station Road, IS Press Road etc. The ZTA has strictly asked the traffic police to ensure proper markings and signs in these areas.

Taking U-turns at major junctions will also be restricted. Hopefully, these new measures will ensure less traffic and easy flow of vehicles in the city.

The chaotic traffic inside the city takes a toll on our patience. And Kochiites have been bearing the brunt of it since the past many years. Accidents and road disasters are nothing new to us, and we have planned umpteen strategies in order to reduce it, but very less has been implemented. Here is something new for Kochiites to check out.

The Kerala police are bringing out a new high-tech road safety system (RFMS), which will contain information on road traffic and accidents, and will help the authorities in taking appropriate measures in order to reduce them. The Geographic Information System (GIS) inside this device will facilitate in locating the accident prone areas.

The device used by both specialists and traffic researchers, will truly be a blessing. Especially with the number of accidents growing at a rapid rate, Kochi definitely needs this system. With a powerful analysis engine, this device will be brought out soon. And hopefully, our accident rates will also reduce to a large extent!

For pedestrians who have been using the roads according to their convenience, and for the drivers who over-speed, beware! Kochi cops can now easily find you, so make sure you stick to the traffic etiquettes.

Kochi cops will soon be installing automated cameras fixed with speed sensors, in order to take snaps of vehicles that over speed or violate traffic signals. With accidents being a common sight specially at the major junctions inside the city, such an initiative will hopefully bring down their rates.

The cameras will be first installed at Kakkanad and Palarivattom, and then to other parts of the city. They are developed by Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation, and will start functioning in every signal across the city by the end of this year. Shots of the vehicle along with registration numbers will be clicked by these cameras.

Oh it isn’t just over-speeding; whether you are using your phone while driving, or not stopping your vehicle at the zebra crossing lines, or even if you decide to drive against a one-way route, you will have to face the heat. And you certainly can’t get away once you are caught. So Kochiites, make sure you stick to traffic rules, this will make Kochi roads a safer place to traverse!

Kochi traffic, as we all know, is one of the most dreaded things in the city these days. The fact that you simply cannot predict it makes it annoying and irritating. With the least consideration to fellow passengers and pedestrians, drivers in the city do not seem to care. The scene got a little worse over the last couple of years. With roads being congested and people pouring into the city, traffic got worse.

Did you know something called the ‘driving etiquette’ exists? Well, you don’t have to really smile at the fellow driver who tried to overtake your car through the wrong side or be polite to the pedestrian who crossed the road in a jiff and ended up in front of your car! The least you can do is be patient enough to ‘take it easy’ and not rush especially when traffic is at its peak. This is just a small suggestion friends, but this can do wonders. Try it!

Niveditha is pursuing her computer education from a centre in Kochi, and she is new to the city. “The traffic here is chaotic and haphazard. Car, bus or two-wheelers don’t seem to care about pedestrians. And if we try crossing the road in a hurry, we are thrown stares at. And also verbally abused most of the times”, says this 22 year old. Whereas for Saju K, who works in Kochi, ‘patience’ is the hero when you drive through Kochi roads! “Just be at your cool, and relax. Start a few minutes before so that you don’t have to hurry to your destination. Having driven in Kochi since the last 15 years, I’ve seen it all and this is the only secret to avoid accidents also”, said Saju.

So next time you take your car or two-wheeler on the roads, make sure that you drive safe and sound and also ‘keep your calm’. That helps!!

Kochiites have tales to tell on how they have been ill-treated and charged immensely and illegally by the auto drivers in our city. Running their autos in the city premises by charging a huge sum and no meters, Kochiites have had enough of it. The situation turned out to be worse in the past two years. No one seemed to listen to our grievances, neither was any worthy action taken. But now, it seems that the authorities have finally opened their eyes!

More than 800 autos, who were plying in the city premises without meters, were caught red-handed over the last month. With cops playing shadow police, our auto drivers had no choice but to succumb to the law. You can also register a complaint to the cops if you think you have been cheated by the auto drivers.

Charging double the money (than the meters) is a very common sight now, and the auto drivers verbally abuse you when you ask them for better rates. And yeah, this happens no where else other than in Kochi. So let us join hands to fight this evil. Next time, an auto driver charges you high and shouts at you if you hesitate to pay huge sums, make sure that you copy down the number of the auto, and file a complaint. This would help!

Are you one of those privileged Kochiites who know ‘how to drive a car’? Well the term ‘privileged’ was irony. We all know the hardships driving here, which can literally give you a headache by the time you reach your destination. No matter how many cops are available in the city to take care of the traffic menace, there seems to be no ending to the chaos.

Traffic signals in Kochi are often found not working. During wee hours, busses, cars, two-wheelers and vans struggle to fit in between the available gaps. Lack of signals makes it worse. There are no cops here either. Kadavathra Junction, one of the pivotal junctions in Kochi city, faces such instances where signals don’t work. With pedestrians crossing (or literally jumping from medians), drivers often don’t notice them. Maybe switching off the signals after 11 p.m. is a good idea, but definitely not before that. Kochi is growing. Nightlife is in full-swing. Hence roads are always full. Kadavanthra Junction is not the only one. Signals not working are now a common sight to Kochiites, At least appoint cops here who can take over the control of traffic.

All we need to know is why is there such a lack of responsibility especially in these pivotal areas of the city. Is it that unless an accident occurs in one of these junctions, officials would not open their eyes to it? Authorities, are you reading this?!!

The much awaited traffic mayhem is slowly beckoning Kochi. How much ever we say that the traffic regulations have been implemented in a decent manner, we must admit that the flaws in them are truly taking a toll on us. With two-wheelers, cars, and busses racing to reach their destinations, the traffic in the city is moving into utter chaos.

So what has been infuriating Kochiites recently has been the one-way traffic diversion over the South RoB. Vehicles that come from the city premises need to wait for more than 20 minutes under the hot sun during peak hours (which usually is 9.30 a.m- 2.00 p.m) to witness vehicles from Kadavathra side plying over the South RoB in full speed. Yes, we need to wait for so long, which only our city cops know for what! This one-way traffic is so baseless! Especially, for people who are hurrying to work, this truly comes as a patience-tester. This would have been completely understandable if this facilitates in traffic ease. But honestly, this really does not!

We are yet to face the major chunk of this in the days to come. With North RoB being demolished, busses also need to be accommodated through our narrow roads. So that means extra disorder! The cops need to figure this out before the situation goes out of hand. Making cops stand in major junctions really does not help in reducing this congestion. A better plan needs to be worked out. What say Kochiites?

Kochi traffic has been taking new turns. From traffic control, and routes being deviated, much has been done about the traffic here. Kochi city police has been doing a good job that way, and now they are coming up with something more interesting.

The city cops are planning to launch a systematic plan of action, and the best part about this project will be a 3.6 crore project which will help in synchronizing the traffic signals in the city. From using synchronized signals, video tours and cameras, this project will ensure a smoother flow of traffic.

Also, cameras will be installed in many junctions across the city. And for those who over speed, there will be devices to check on that too. Parking will also be made easier now. The city will be divided into restricted parking zones, no parking zones, parking zones, etc.

Now if all this is implemented, Kochi would be a much easier place to drive your car and bikes. Let’s see how it works!!

Well, this is neither a biography nor a real story which we are sharing here. It’s about the successful trial of traffic diversion attempted by the traffic cops in Kochi. It was a huge success, and hats off for that. As part of demolishing the North RoB for Metro rail construction, traffic had been diverted in Kochi on Monday. Only heavy vehicles and private busses were allowed to ply over the North RoB, and two-wheelers and cars had to take turns.

Though it was a little crazy for three-wheelers, two-wheelers and car drivers to take turns everywhere, it did ensure smooth traffic in the city. And yes, the cops were strict and did abide to the given regulations. It was the Pulleppady and South RoB to the rescue for most of them. The potholes in every nook and corner of our roads did play the villain. Drivers had a tough time. But now, that seems to be an unheard cry which god alone will knows will be answered when.

So now, with this success story to add an extra feather to Kochi cops’ caps, let’s hope things do not go haywire when the real traffic regulations have to be implemented, that is, when North RoB is demolished.

Kochi traffic will take new turns now. The new traffic regulations that will be implemented in Kochi from this week onwards, is definitely going to be a challenge which traffic cops and Kochiites will have to deal with. Only heavy vehicles and busses will ply over North ROB from the 12^th of September. As part of demolishing the North ROB to pave way for Metro rail, traffic regulations will be strict and stern. So no more cutting one-ways and overtaking through narrow roads!! J

So all the cars and two-wheelers that used to cross the North ROB have no other option left, but to reach the city premises through Pulleppady ROB or the South ROB. More than 100 cops have been appointed in various parts of the city to make things easier for commuters across Kochi.

Well, nothing worthwhile has been done about the condition of hundreds of potholes in our city. These dangerous pits still pose a threat to pedestrians and drivers alike. We all know they would add to the traffic menace in the city. So here is the time when you really have to show some patience and act wise. Yes, Kochi drivers have been doing it harsh lately. With auto drivers playing the biggest villains, taking your car out to the roads is crazy. Let’s drive, yet show consideration for fellow drivers and pedestrians in the city!