In a decisive move to tackle the relentless traffic congestion plaguing National Highway (NH) 544, Thrissur District Collector Arjun Pandyan has issued a strong directive to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). He insists on the immediate completion of all outstanding construction work and demands a comprehensive progress report, emphasizing that this action directly responds to both the ongoing public inconvenience and prior mandates from the Kerala High Court.
To get a clear picture of the ground reality and pinpoint the root causes of the delays, the Collector has assembled a specialized multi-agency task force. This team, bringing together experts from NATPAC, the Public Works Department’s National Highway engineering division, local police, and the Motor Vehicles Department, will meticulously inspect the highway and its ancillary infrastructure. Their detailed findings will first go to the Interim Traffic Management Committee, after which the Collector will present a consolidated report directly to the High Court.
It’s worth noting that the High Court had previously expressed its concern, specifically instructing the NHAI to provide an action-taken report detailing why certain crucial works highlighted in an earlier report by the Collector had yet to be finished.
The upcoming inspection is set to address a range of critical issues contributing to the hazardous road conditions. Key areas of focus include dangerously narrow access points from service roads onto the main highway, severely insufficient stormwater drainage, widespread potholes on service roads, shoddy repair work on already damaged sections, and a concerning lack of proper safety barricades at active construction sites and areas known for frequent accidents.
Adding to the list of concerns, the Interim Traffic Management Committee has already highlighted a significant delay in the construction of a much-needed underpass along the corridor in its latest submission to the High Court.