[sustran] Flyovers fail to decongest, expose lack of planning

[Vinay Baindur]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Flyovers-fail-to-decongest-expose-lack-of-planning/articleshow/42438576.cms
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Flyovers fail to decongest, expose lack of planningTNN | Sep 14, 2014,
12.37 PM IST

KOCHI: If you happen to travel to Aluva through the flyover connecting
Pulinchode and Marthanda Varma Bridge, you will certainly get trapped in a
traffic jam at Aluva bypass junction. In the absence of grade separators
and effective signals, the bypass junction has become a traffic bottleneck
as vehicles have to queue up for long hours to cross the signal.

The flyover at Aluva bypass does not cross the busy junction, but lands
right at the signal. There is chaos when vehicles arriving from Kochi use
the flyover to proceed to Aluva. There are service roads and motorists are
directed through these roads also. Vehicles from all directions congregate
at the junction. The bad state of roads and construction works of Kochi
Metro add to traffic congestion.

"The flyover is an example of inefficient urban planning. The very purpose
of constructing the structure is defeated. It was after completing the
construction that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and
public works department (PWD) understood the complications. The flyover was
designed without considering traffic movement or the requirements of the
busy junction," said architect S Gopakumar, president of city-based NGO,
Better Kochi Response Group (BKRG).

Experts following infrastructure development in the city point out that
most flyovers are being constructed without considering the possibility
that they may become traffic bottlenecks in future.

A senior official with the Kochi corporation said that opening of A L Jacob
railway overbridge (ROB) in the city has made Kumaranasan Junction at
Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road another point of traffic congestion. "Similar
situation can arise when the Palarivattom flyover, which is under
construction, is open to traffic. Though projects are mooted for easing
traffic at busy junctions in city, so far none of these have been
implemented," said the official.

Experts insist that the state government's town planning department should
be developed as a think tank that focuses on urban planning. V K Adarsh, an
engineer and social media critic said: "While planning structures like
flyovers, the department should consider aspects like future development of
city, possibilities in increase or decrease in the number of vehicles,
potential for bottlenecks, whether design meets the needs of the specific
area, economic aspects, how it affects local people, heritage and culture."

Kochi : If you happen to travel from Kochi to Aluva through the flyover
connecting Pulinchode to Marthanda Varma bridge you will certainly get
trapped in a traffic jam at the Aluva bypass junction. In the absence of
grade separators and effective traffic signals the bypass junction has
become a bottleneck and vehicles have to queue up for long hours for
crossing the signal.

The flyover at Aluva bypass does not cross the busy junction. Instead it
lands right at the signal. There is chaos at the junction when vehicles
coming through the flyover from Kochi tries to proceed to Aluva. There are
service roads and motorists are directed through these roads also. Vehicles
from all directions congregate at the junction. The bad state of roads and
construction works of Kochi Metro add to the traffic congestion.

"The flyover is an example of inefficient urban planning . The very purpose
of constructing the structure stands defeated. It was after completing the
construction that the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Public
Works Department (PWD) understood the complications. The flyover was
designed without considering traffic movement or the requirements of the
busy junction," said architect S Gopakumar, president of city- based NGO,
Better Kochi Response Group (BKRG).

Experts following infrastructure development in the city point out that
most flyovers in the city are being constructed in the city without
considering the possibilities of these turning out to be a traffic
bottleneck in the future.

A senior official with the Kochi corporation said that opening of A L Jacob
railway overbridge (ROB) in the city has made Kumaranasan junction at
Kaloor-Kadavanthra road another point of traffic congestion. "Similar
situation can arise when the Palarivattom flyover, which is under
construction, is thrown open for traffic. Though projects are mooted for
developing busy junctions in the city, so far none of these have been
implemented," said the official.

The experts insist that the state government's town planning department
should be developed as a think tank, which gives focus to urban planning. V
K Adarsh, an engineer and social media critic said, "While planning
structures like flyovers the department should consider aspects like future
development of city, possibilities in increase or decrease in the number of
vehicles, potential for bottlenecks, whether design meets the needs of the
specific area, economic aspects, how it affects local people, heritage and
culture."