Kerala High Court Issues Directions To Ease Traffic Congestion, Enhance Pedestrian Safety In Thiruvananthapuram's East Fort Area

The petition was filed seeking a direction to the state government (respondent 1) and the Transport Commissioner (respondent 2) to implement the proposal submitted by the NATPAC (National Transportation Planning and Research Centre) and TDRL (Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Corporation Ltd.) for erecting three foot-over-bridges with escalators for the easy and safe movement of pedestrians and vehicles at the East Fort area.

The petition also sought for a direction to the government to initiate urgent steps to widen the road by acquiring the land behind the East Fort bus stop and the part of the Central School and also to provide permanent relief from flooding in the east fort bus stand area.

Additionally, the plea sought for a direction to the respondents 1 to 4, including the district collector and NATPAC, to ensure the continuous pedestrian guard rails are provided along the footpath at both sides of the East Fort Road; continuous pedestrian guard rails with only two openings around the Gandhi Park and continuous guard rails are to be provided at median.

Earlier, the Court had directed the Chief Engineer to give audience to the petitioners to understand the issues raised by them and to submit proposals. The 2^nd respondent Transport Commissioner thereafter filed a statement with recommendations for enhancing pedestrian safety and improve bus stand operations.

The recommendations included installation of marked crosswalks, sky walls, signage, allocation of separate parking spaces for buses, construction of bus bays, establishment of safe, well-lit waiting areas, use of an electronic platform to synchronize bus schedules and reduce congestion, strict enforcement of traffic regulations and imposition of fines for double parking, etc.

The Court had ordered that these recommendations can be placed before the Secretary to the government. Thereafter, a meeting presided over by the Minister for Transport was held and the minutes of the meeting was also produced before the Court.

Noting that there is complete consensus between department that there must be implementation of the short-term and long-terms measures, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji stipulated timelines for implementing the short-term measures outlined by the Transport Commissioner.

It observed:

“(A)  As regards the repairs of the damaged infrastructure, i.e., signages, markings and footpath tiles, to be repaired and replaced, the same shall be done within a period of four months.

(B)  The pedestrian guard rails, as suggested in the memo, be installed within a period of six months.

(C) The process for constructing two additional foot overbridges, one at the centre of the bus bay at the location of Chala road entry after the KSRTC petrol pump and another at Pazhavangadi-interconnected via a skywalk, be initiated within a period of two months.

(D) The Transport Commissioner, if not already issued the instructions, will issue necessary instructions to all the concerned officers, within a period of two weeks, monitoring regular traffic movement, such as preventing the illegal movement of private buses ending the trips at Kizhakkekkotta (East Fort), and will place the responsibility on one officer to co-ordinate the monitoring activities.”

Regarding the long-term measures outlined, it further observed:

“As regards the long-term measures, such as relocation of bus stand, acquisition of land, removal of shops and encroachments, a considered decision regarding the feasibility of these measures be taken within a period of two months from today. If they are not feasible, then appropriate alternative solution be decided.”

Thus, it disposed of the PIL.

Case No: WP(C) No. 39438 of 2024

Case Title: C.A.N. Subramoniya Sarma and Ors. v. State of Kerala and Ors.

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 477

Counsel for the petitioners: Namitha Neethu Balachandran, P. Rahul, Bindu S., Abhina L., Anushka Vijayakumar

Counsel for the respondents: P.C. Chacko (Parathanam), Suman Chakravarthy – SC – Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Riji Rajendran – SC - NATPAC, K.V. Manojkumar – Sr. GP

Click To Read/Download Judgment