Thrikkakara authorities turn collectorate roads one‑way after fatal bus crash

A speeding private bus that struck and killed a woman walking near Infopark on Nov 4 triggered an urgent overhaul of traffic flow around the Thrikkakara collectorate. All streets bordering the collectorate compound will now operate as one‑way corridors. The width of these roads will be increased by taking over land belonging to the collectorate, the Kerala Books and Publications Society and nearby parcels. The municipality has also been tasked with rebuilding its compound walls. A study will examine whether the cramped IMG Junction‑Infopark stretch, the site of the accident, can be turned into a one‑way lane. New footpaths will be added to protect pedestrians, and crews will clear dangling wires and abandoned posts along the route. The Motor Vehicles Department has been asked to adjust allotted travel times on various routes to curb reckless driving, while police and the MVD must enforce strict action against bus staff lacking required police clearance certificates. These steps were approved on Saturday, Nov 7, in a meeting led by Thrikkakara MLA Uma Thomas at the collectorate. A follow‑up review is scheduled a week later, with regular check‑ins thereafter to monitor implementation. Attendees included District Collector G. Priyanka, officials from the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre, the Public Works Department, Kochi Metro Rail Limited, the MVD, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ernakulam) Arun K. Pavithran and Thrikkakara municipal chairman Rashid Ullampally.

Context

The changes aim to reduce high‑speed traffic in a busy commercial zone, a common strategy in Indian cities where narrow streets and mixed pedestrian‑vehicle use often lead to accidents.