Protruding bollards, billboards choke Kochi junctions, endangering commuters

Kochi Corporation’s digital billboards jut out into the road at Manorama Junction. | Photo credit: H. VIBHU

Poles, hoardings, transformers and other structures that protrude into the road and free left turns cause severe traffic congestion at many intersections in Kochi.

The obstructions and safety risks they pose to motorists and pedestrians have led to widespread calls for their relocation.

Recalling an accident he witnessed at the Vyttila junction recently, Prime Minister Girijavallabhan, a lawyer and socio-environmental activist based in Eroor, narrated how an interstate luxury bus hit a steel pillar jutting into the road on the free left turn from Vyttila towards the Vyttila mobility hub. “A serpentine queue of vehicles formed in different directions as it took more than 15 minutes to extricate the bus, whose rear wheels got caught on the pillar and concrete base. A similar pillar without cables juts out into the extremely narrow road on the other side. Illegal car parking makes the situation worse for road users,” he added.

“security risk”

Echoing this view, KS Dileep Kumar, president of Ernakulam Vikasana Samity, said that electric poles and those belonging to private telecom firms pose safety hazards and obstruct the free movement of vehicles and pedestrians at almost all intersections and side road entrances in the city. “To make matters worse, Kochi Corporation is installing digital billboards to display advertisements at key intersections. These very tall and wide boards further block Kochi’s already narrow intersections while creating ‘blind spots’ by restricting the view of drivers and pedestrians.”

Such boards now even adorn intersections on MG Road, including Madhava Pharmacy Junction and Rajaji Road, he added. Mr. Kumar recently filed a complaint with the Kochi Corporation about the problem and the bus shelters and bunkhouse shops occupying the entire width of the sidewalks, forcing pedestrians to walk on the road.

The company responded that steps would be taken to remove or relocate such boards if they impeded traffic movement.

Mayor VK Minimol said bollards and other structures obstructing traffic at Vyttila would be removed as part of a ₹1.50 million project to decongest the intersection. Regarding complaints about billboards, the Chairman of the Kochi Corporation’s City Planning Standing Committee said that officials have conducted inspections at many such places. She assured that follow-up measures would be taken.

Published – 29 Oct 2026 07:00 IST