The police have flagged over 30 safety issues lurking on different roads across the city, ranging from a lack of zebra lines to deadly stretches. The traffic (East) wing of the Kochi City police has raised the issue with the departments concerned in multiple communications.

The police have detected 15 issues to be rectified by the Public Works department (PWD) and 14 by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) so far this year.

The issues reported to the PWD include the alleged faulty design of the road causing frequent accidents on the Chamabakkara-Pettah stretch. The Kochi metro was, meanwhile, alerted about the frequent accidents caused by vehicles crashing into metro pillars along the stretch.

The police have flagged the formation of dangerous potholes on various stretches, including near Kunnara Park and on the exit of the Vyttila Mobility Hub on Vyttila-Pettah road and near Kangarappady Masjid on Edappally-Pookkattupady road. They have also highlighted the difficulties faced by pedestrians to cross the National Highway 66 Bypass at Edappally.

The communications by the police to the NHAI pertain to issues including the alleged faulty design of the median on Container Road, damaged approach roads of Madavana-Kumbalam bridges, and the formation of threatening potholes on Kalamassery railway overbridge. The police also highlighted the need for speed breakers near Anavathil on Container Road as well as rumble strips and reflective studs on the Chalikkavattom-Ponnurunni stretch of NH 66.

Most issues were reported between April and June, police sources said. “Road safety can be ensured by timely and coordinated responses by multiple departments and agencies involved. The traffic police have been consistently monitoring the situation on roads and reporting them to the departments concerned,” a senior traffic police officer said.

Officials with the PWD and the NHAI said the departments had been looking into the issue and taking necessary steps. “We fix running contracts to carry out works relating to road maintenance. Some of the issues flagged by the police, including potholes on different stretches, have been rectified. Sometimes delay happens in works due to the gaps in renewing or fixing new running contracts which are signed for a year,” a PWD official said.