Beware rash drivers, ride safely on this great Kochi road else..., warn residents

In most parts of Kerala, people rage against potholes and crumbling roads. But in Parappuram near Nedumbassery in Kochi, a freshly tarred road meant to ease travel has instead unleashed chaos. Speeding vehicles have turned the 14.1 km Desham-Vallamkadavu stretch accident-prone, claiming lives and leaving residents desperate. Their response has been blunt: put up warning boards threatening rash drivers with "merciless" action and crowdfund ₹9 lakh to buy an ambulance of their own. 

The 14.1 km Deshom–Vallamkadavu Road, renovated last year at a cost of ₹17 crore, is now so smooth that motorists treat it like a racetrack. Reckless speeding has triggered a spate of accidents with at least three deaths and multiple serious injuries in recent months, leaving residents desperate. Following this, they put up the boards which read "Warning! Whoever drives recklessly or negligently and causes an accident will be beaten up by the local residents. There will be no mercy."

"Earlier, when the road was bad, accidents were fewer. Now we see them almost every other day," said ward member Gracy Dayanandan. "People are speeding, many are under the influence of drugs and alcohol. For the safety of residents, we had no choice but to put up such boards. Since we don’t have ambulance services in the locality, residents decided to buy one so that accident victims get medical care on time," Dayanandan said.

The community-funded ambulance, run by the SNDP Yogam Youth Movement here, has already been put to use. On Thiruvonam day, 59-year-old Xavier, a resident of Parappuram, was riding to a nearby shop and was rammed by a speeding bike with three students on board. He became the first casualty to be ferried in the community ambulance. Despite rushing him to the hospital, he could not be saved. 

Nishad KG, president of the Youth Movement, said the boards are working. "Motorists, especially youngsters, have started slowing down. We had no other choice. The accidents are happening every two or three days. There are not enough warning signs or speed checks along the road," he said. 

The National Highways section of PWD argues that sufficient warning signs exist. "The road was renovated to high standards using bituminous macadam and concrete layering (BMBC). There are signboards and speed limit warnings in place. However, easing curves or widening them was not part of this project," said a PWD source. 

But residents argue that without speed breakers, cameras, or curve corrections, the road has become more dangerous than ever. 

Meanwhile, the police have now stepped up patrols and checks. “We are conducting frequent checks and registering more speeding and reckless driving cases, and have asked PWD for additional warning boards," said Kalady SHO.