Traffic management in Kochi’s busiest intersection has taken a hit, as the traffic signal system at Vyttila Junction — one of the city’s major arterial nodes — has been non-operational for nearly a week. The outage, caused by the expiration of a maintenance contract with an external service provider, has forced traffic police to manually regulate vehicular and pedestrian movement across five key roads converging at the junction.
Authorities report significant congestion during peak hours as police teams — eight officers at a time — attempt to coordinate movements from multiple directions, including Palarivattom, Tripunithura, Kundanoor, and Sahodaran Ayyappan Road. The lack of automated signaling technology has heightened the risk of accidents and has frustrated commuters, especially private vehicle owners, public bus drivers, and two-wheeler riders navigating the busy intersection.
In the absence of proper signaling, police have arranged temporary yellow blinking lights through a private agency to partially aid traffic flow, though enforcement personnel indicate that the effectiveness of such measures is limited. Visibility issues at the sprawling junction, especially during evenings and early mornings, have compounded the challenge, with several near-miss incidents reported by citizens.
Officials from the Cochin Smart Mission Ltd, which oversees urban infrastructure projects, have been in ongoing discussions with the erstwhile contractor, Keltron, to resolve contractual and maintenance issues. However, Keltron has stated that without a valid contract in place, it cannot legally perform repair or maintenance work — a stance that has stalled quick resolution.
While efforts are now underway to procure an alternate signaling system, authorities have not provided a firm timeline. Commuters have expressed growing impatience, urging the Kochi Municipal Corporation and transport authorities to fast-track repairs or temporary technological solutions to avert daily gridlocks.
News as reported
