CPI(M) threatens to blockade NHAI officials’ houses over NH 544 gridlock

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has said that it will blockade the residences of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials if the traffic block along NH 544 is not resolved by August 21. The party accused the authorities of negligence that left commuters stranded for hours every day.

On Monday, vehicles were stuck for more than four hours on the Ernakulam-Thrissur National Highway, particularly around the underpass construction sites at Amballur, Perambra, Muringoor, and Chirangara. Even ambulances were trapped in the gridlock. The police eased congestion by diverting smaller vehicles through interior roads, but heavy trucks continued to choke the highway. The situation worsened after the tire of a lorry loaded with goods burst after hitting a pothole, stalling traffic further.

The Supreme Court also came down heavily on the NHAI and toll operators, questioning: “Why should people pay toll when the condition of the highway is so deplorable?” Last Friday, motorists had endured an 18-hour-long traffic jam on the same stretch.

On NH 66 too

Congestion is not limited to NH 544. On NH 66, the Kottappuram–Moothakunnam section has turned into a bottleneck, with a single kilometre taking more than an hour to cover. Flooded roads, unfinished works, and frequent pothole-related accidents, particularly among two-wheeler riders, have added to motorists’ troubles.