Heightened commercial activity, unauthorised on-street parking, lane-discipline violations, and the absence of a traffic signal at Karaparamba Junction, an intersection of five roads, are giving a harrowing experience to motorists and pedestrians alike on the 800-metre stretch between Karikkamkulam and Karaparamba on the Balussery State Highway in Kozhikode city.

Besides this, the chronic traffic congestion is attributed to the narrowness of the road, especially from the Government Homoeopathic Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, to the Karaparamba bridge, along with a rising number of vehicles on the route.

Half-a-dozen police officers and home guards deployed during peak hours struggle to manage traffic in the corridor. “We have submitted a proposal to the Public Works department for widening the Karaparamba bridge. However, the project has been delayed owing to the Canoli canal development project,” said an officer at the Nadakkavu traffic police station.

He added that a proposal to develop the Balussery State Highway, which was mooted long ago, was progressing at a slow pace. “A second proposal involved widening the bridge near Market Road, which runs across the canal 10 metres away from Karaparamba Junction towards Eranhipaalam. A Bailey bridge has also been suggested as a temporary installation until the widening of the main bridge is completed,” the officer said.

On the broken signal system, he said, “A proposal is in place to repair the signal system, but it will not solve the current issue as the lanes are very congested. With a proper bridge in place, at least 60% of the current traffic congestion can be avoided.”

Lauding the efforts of the traffic department, V.T. Sajeev Kumar, a local autorickshaw driver, said widening the Karikkamkulam-Karaparamba road would be difficult as both sides of the street are lined with shops. “Extending one end of the bridge towards Eranhipalam Junction by an angle of around 60 degrees will facilitate a free left turn for vehicles coming from the Karikkamkulam side,” he said.

Vehicle congestion has made it unsafe for pedestrians as well, with faded zebra crossings everywhere, including on the bridge. “An automated signal system, with more time allotted to the busier Karikkamkulam-Karaparamba road and Eranhipaalam-Karaparamba road, could fix the problem,” said Rahul Raj, a pedestrian.

K.C. Shobitha, the Malaparamba division councillor, felt the need for a new bridge was urgent due to the severe traffic congestion experienced almost throughout the day. “Both the Market Road bridge and Mudappattupalam, located near the Karaparamba bridge, are in a deteriorated condition. Repair work on these bridges should be undertaken with due consideration of their role in easing traffic at Karaparamba Junction,” she added.