1 week ago
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A special drive launched by the Kochi City police, aimed at improving pedestrian safety and introducing a traffic culture, has seen over 9,000 cases of traffic rule violations booked in a little over a month.
The city police are focussing on clearing footpaths, ensuring free movement on zebra crossings, and preventing roadside obstruction.
While 4,853 petty cases were registered over alleged obstructive parking, 2,878 people were fined for parking on footpaths. In addition, 1,569 drivers were booked for violations at zebra crossings. The cases were registered between January 1 and February 10, according to the police.
Special squads were deployed on stretches like MG Road, Banerjee Road, and Park Avenue Road, busy junctions, commercial areas, and premises of educational institutions as part of the drive.
The police said the goal of the drive was to nurture a culture of responsible parking and driving that values pedestrians’ rights. “The Kochi City police will remain vigilant and continue the enforcement drive to ensure public safety,” District Police Chief (Kochi City) Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic West) Mohammed Nizar claimed the drive had been effective with a change in the drivers’ attitude becoming visible in spots where enforcement was strengthened.
“Unfortunately, we still don’t have a culture of driving that respects the rights of pedestrians. This issue was highlighted by the Kerala High Court on several occasions. The ongoing drive was launched in response to frequent violations and complaints. It will continue until the goal is achieved,” the officer said.
He added that when the drive was launched, the officials concerned had been instructed to repaint zebra crossings that had faded, and works were progressing at various points. The National Highways Authority of India has repainted zebra crossings at various spots at Container Junction, while the Kochi Corporation has initiated works on Banerjee Road, he added.
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