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**A Persistent Threat: The Ongoing Dangers of Kochi’s Container Terminal Road**
On Friday, the tragic death of Liby V.K., a senior clerk of the Kochi Corporation, brought renewed attention to the persistent dangers of the Container Terminal Road—a crucial yet hazardous 16-kilometer stretch connecting Kalamassery to Vallarpadam. This incident, which took place at Ponnarimangalam, is the latest in a troubling series of accidents that have turned this arterial road into a daily nightmare for motorists, especially those on two-wheelers.
The frequency of accidents on Container Terminal Road is not a recent phenomenon. For years, the stretch has been plagued by a combination of factors that make it particularly treacherous. Civic activists and local residents have repeatedly highlighted the road’s accident-prone nature, but their concerns have often been overlooked until a fatality occurs. As Abhijith John, a member of the civic forum Nerkazhcha Vedhi, points out, “Accidents have been happening frequently on the stretch, but only fatal ones get public attention.” This tendency to react only when lives are lost has contributed to a cycle of neglect and inaction.
**Underlying Causes: Infrastructure and Design Failures**
The root causes of these accidents are multifaceted. A primary issue, according to residents, is the chronic traffic congestion on the Goshree bridges, which funnel a high volume of vehicles onto the Container Terminal Road. The resulting gridlock not only heightens the risk of collisions but also creates conditions where reckless driving and impatience can flourish.
Equally significant is the lack of adequate street lighting along the road, particularly in the stretch between Cheranalloor Junction and Bolghatty Junction. Although the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) installed new streetlights as recently as two months ago—almost a decade after the road was first built—much of the road remains shrouded in darkness. This lack of visibility is especially perilous at night, making it difficult for drivers to see obstacles, pedestrians, or stray animals in time to react safely.
Local voices like Abhijith John underscore how this darkness exacerbates other dangers: “It is learnt that in the latest incident, which claimed a woman’s life, lack of adequate light and reckless riding of container lorries played a role.” The combination of poor illumination and the high volume of heavy vehicles, particularly container lorries, creates a lethal mix. These large vehicles, often parked indiscriminately along the road or driven at high speeds, further reduce the margin for error for smaller vehicles and two-wheeler riders.
Moreover, the road and junction designs themselves have come under scrutiny. Many observers describe the layouts as “unscientific,” arguing that they do not account for the volume or type of traffic that the road now bears. Poorly designed intersections, confusing signage, and inadequate provisions for pedestrians and cyclists all contribute to the sense of chaos and danger that prevails on the Container Terminal Road.
**The Role of Stray Animals: An Overlooked Hazard**
Another pressing but often overlooked danger is the significant population of stray dogs along the road. Over time, this stretch has become home to numerous strays, which frequently dart unexpectedly into traffic. Such incidents can be fatal, particularly for two-wheeler riders who are more vulnerable to sudden obstacles.
Mr. John recalls a tragic case from 2019, when a 22-year-old youth lost his life on the Container Terminal Road. He was forced to swerve to avoid a stray dog that suddenly crossed his path, fell from his bike, and was then run over by a truck traveling in the same direction. Such stories are not isolated, highlighting the urgent need for animal control measures alongside infrastructure improvements.
**Lighting Woes: A Tale of Bureaucratic Gridlock**
While the installation of streetlights was initially seen as a step forward, the reality has fallen short of expectations due to bureaucratic and logistical hurdles. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), responsible for the installation, has publicly blamed the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for failing to provide the necessary power connections to the new lights.
“All lights have been installed by us. The KSEB has sought more transformers to charge them but it is not in our scope,” an