Thiruvananthapuram: Three new flyovers equipped with escalator systems are being constructed to ease traffic congestion at East Fort and to ensure safe road crossing for pedestrians. The High Court has directed the construction of flyovers at three locations-- towards the Attakulangara region, from the KSRTC depot to Gandhi Park and in front of the Pazhavangady Ganapathy Temple. The directive follows recommendations in a report submitted by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (Natpac).

At the same time, another flyover with a lift, constructed by spending lakhs of rupees has remained unused and stands neglected at East Fort.

According to the Natpac report, pedestrian vulnerability is particularly high in areas such as Cotton Hill School, Vazhuthacaud, Pattom–Kesavadasapuram Road and East Fort. During peak hours, as many as 7,00 pedestrians cross the road in front of Cotton Hill School and 3,000 in front of St. Mary’s School, the survey states. Pedestrians are also making regular use of the foot overbridges near Cotton Hill and St. Mary’s Schools.

Natpac has also recommended the installation of handrails to enhance pedestrian safety and the relocation of roadside vendors to reduce congestion.

As per a report by the Regional Transport Officer (RTO), the parallel parking of KSRTC and private buses in two lanes is a major cause of frequent accidents at East Fort. Private buses often pick up passengers by fully encroaching on a lane, severely disrupting the flow of traffic. To address this, the RTO has recommended the construction of bus bays, fully lit bus shelters, and the introduction of digitally managed bus schedules.

These steps aim to reduce the clustering of multiple buses operating on the same route at the same time within the bus stand area.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji has ordered the implementation of both short-term and long-term measures to make Kizhakkekotta an accident-free zone.

However, there are allegations that several previously announced projects aimed at improving conditions in East Fort were either abandoned midway or never implemented due to the apathy of the concerned authorities.

Earlier, the authorities had shifted the operation of private buses to the Vettimuricha Kotta area in an effort to ease the congestion caused by both private and KSRTC buses operating from the same location. However, the decision had to be frozen following strong opposition from private bus operators.

Similarly, the proposed project for constructing an underpass beneath Gandhi Park, which was intended to connect East Fort to Chala,was abandoned without any specific reason. A blueprint for this underpass had even been prepared as part of the Smart City Project.