Police step up deployment to manage traffic as schools reopen in city

Police in Ernakulam district have planned extensive deployment arrangements to manage the expected surge in traffic and ensure the safety of students as schools reopen on Monday (June 1).

Police have identified 59 traffic congestion points where hundreds of vehicles carrying students are expected to return to the roads after the summer holidays.

Vyttila Junction, Edappally, Palarivattom, Vaduthala, Pachalam and both ends of Goshree bridges are among the major bottlenecks detected by the police. “The locations have been determined through station-wise surveys and based on previous experience. Around 700 police personnel will be deployed to manage traffic between 7 am and 10 am and again between 3 pm and 6 pm in the afternoon,” District Superintendent of Police (Kochi city) Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar said on Sunday (May 31).

The movement of dump trucks within the city will be restricted during these hours. Personnel from traffic units, local police stations and the armed reserve camp will be deployed. Additional patrol teams will also be on duty throughout the city. The police officer said that teams will be deployed to detect drunk driving and driving under the influence of narcotics. Volunteers will also be assigned to school buildings to ensure pedestrian safety.

The regulations were reviewed at a meeting attended by Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Ernakulam Rural Police has also prepared deployment and surveillance plans focusing on school transport safety and traffic management. As part of the measures, awareness and training sessions were held for the drivers and assistants of school buses operating under police stations in Aluva district.

Ernakulam Rural District Police Chief KS Sudarshan said school buses will undergo stringent inspections to verify permits, fitness certificates and other mandatory documents. He said strict action would be taken against drivers found driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances.

The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) completed its annual compliance inspection of school buses last week in preparation for the new school year.