Kerala HC directs authorities to immediately fix road protrusions near Kochi Metro pillars

Kochi: High court has directed Kochi corporation, along with the state govt and Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL), to immediately identify, level and permanently rectify all road surface protrusions and uneven portions surrounding Metro pillars within Kochi city.A bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V M Syam Kumar issued the order in a PIL filed by Pauly Vadakkan of Kadavanthra in Kochi, seeking a directive to the authorities to address the dangerous road surface irregularities that have developed around Metro pillars. The petitioner submitted that these irregularities have resulted in protrusions of approximately 3 to 4 inches above road level. These are located along busy traffic lanes and are not easily visible to motorists, especially at night, thereby posing a grave risk to road users, particularly two-wheeler riders.Noting the submissions, HC directed Kochi corporation to appoint a technical committee or expert agency to conduct a comprehensive safety audit of all roads along the Metro rail corridor and submit a report by June 11. Additionally, the corporation secretary shall convene an urgent meeting with the district collector, KMRL and Kerala Road Safety Authority, and take appropriate steps to ensure that all roads are restored. The respondents shall also install adequate and effective safety measures, including high-visibility warning signage, reflective road markers, rumble strips, and impact-absorbing protective installations around Metro pillars at all identified hazardous locations, HC ordered.The petitioner claimed that the most critical accident-prone locations include Sahodaran Ayyappan Road (near Manorama Junction and the Elamkulam stretch), Kalamassery, Edappally (near Changampuzha Park), Kacherippady-Kaloor and MG Road. Referring to several media reports, he alleged that the protrusions are akin to hitting an invisible wall, and highlighted incidents of vehicles overturning and repeated near-miss accidents. The absence of warning signs, reflective indicators and other safety measures has aggravated the risk posed to road users.The petitioner also cited four accidents that occurred due to these protrusions.