Smoother ride on Ekm-Thrissur stretch from today

COMMUTERS on the Ernakulam-Thrissur stretch of NH 544 can breathe easy. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has promised a smoother ride on the section from Monday as it races to finish retarring of service roads at key choke points like Muringoor and Amballur where underpasses are being built.

- Krishna Kumar K E @Kochi

The decision, coming just as the Onam rush commences, follows weeks of public outcry, protests and a directive from the Kerala High Court, which had formed an expert committee to address the traffic chaos on the Edappally-Mannuthy corridor. The poor condition of the temporary service roads, a result of ongoing underpass construction and heavy monsoon rain, was cited as the primary reason for the persistent gridlock. Motorists have been enduring agonising delays, with journeys that typically took just over an hour stretching to three or four.