Traffic goes for a toss

KOCHI: The city being in the midst of Onam celebrations, with people wrapping up their last minute shopping and other preparation, the traffic has turned into a veritable mess. This despite the authorities and traffic personnel taking efforts to smoothen vehicle flow in the city. 

Kochi, with its considerable outstation and floating population, witnessed more than its usual traffic this week.The arterial roads in the city were mostly crowded. Major roads, especially M G Road, Durbar Hall Road, Broadway, Menaka, Banerjee Road,Shanmukham Road and Marine Drive saw a huge rush of shoppers, causing parking problems.“Police persons have been deployed in every junction. But the heavy rush makes it difficult to control at all times. We toed several vehicles parked in the no- parking zones. Traffic volunteers have been helping the police in streamlining vehicles. There’s of course the other underlying fact that our roads simply cannot accommodate such massive rush and authorities will have to find alternatives to prevent traffic congestion,” Traffic Assistant Commissioner, Baby Vinod said  In spite of steps taken by the Corporation and police, roadside vendors had a field day, with people on the lookout for modestly-priced knickknacks, causing a hindrance to the traffic and mobility of pedestrians. "Vendors affecting traffic will be removed,” the Assistant Commissioner assured.

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