A Huge Relief for Residents and Commuters

Order is in response to the authorities' failure to make arrangements for easing traffic congestion on NH 544

- GOPIKA VARRIER @Thrissur

Residents in and around Paliyekkara were relieved on Wednesday as the High Court suspended collection of toll here for next four weeks, as the authorities failed to make arrangements for easing traffic congestion on NH 544.

For daily commuters on the Mannuthy-Angamaly stretch of the NH, the journey used to be difficult due to the construction of five underpasses within a distance of 60 km, which is progressing at Amballur, Muringoor, Koratty, Perambra, and Karukutty. The work on all these underpasses began simultaneously without making any alternative arrangements for traffic diversions. While the NH is usually used by travelers to save time and ensure speedy journeys, the situation is different here. Even to reach the Kochi Airport, travelers have to plan their journey in advance to manage the traffic blocks at construction locations. The journey which used to take two-and-a-half hours from Thrissur to Ernakulam now takes at least five hours due to traffic blocks.