Mattor in Kalady is facing persistent traffic congestion and waterlogging, prompting a regional coordination committee of residents’ associations to seek time-bound measures from local authorities and government departments.
The problem has become particularly severe when vehicle volumes increase on the route, creating conditions similar to the long-running congestion previously experienced in Kalady. Traffic movement in Kalady has improved after roadwork involving the removal and relaying of tarmac on the bridge, but Mattor continues to become heavily congested during peak movement.
The residents’ associations’ coordination committee held a meeting of representatives of various organisations at St George Jacobite Church Hall in Mattor to collect practical suggestions. The meeting brought together local elected representatives, officials, educational institutions, traders and transport workers.
Among the proposals discussed was the installation of a median between Mattor Junction and Kalady bridge. Participants also sought a dedicated traffic unit for Kalady and proposed replacing the existing signal-based management at Mattor Junction with direct regulation by police personnel or traffic wardens, citing the general failure of the current signal system.
The meeting also proposed installing direction boards at the junction and along the sides of the road, and shifting the bus stop serving traffic towards Angamaly further ahead. Parking on both sides of the Sree Sankara College Road was proposed to be prohibited. During the morning and evening peak periods, participants suggested introducing one-way traffic on the college road, with vehicles travelling towards the college entering through Mattor and returning through the Marottichode route.
The proposals link traffic management to the movement generated by the college and surrounding institutions. The discussion indicates that the congestion is not being viewed only as a junction-level problem, but also as an outcome of roadside parking, bus-stop placement, signal management and the concentration of traffic on a narrow route.
Waterlogging on College Road was another major issue discussed at the meeting. Participants proposed removing silt from existing drains to improve water flow and creating a system to divert water flowing down the road slope into the drains. The measures are intended to address the drainage conditions that worsen movement along the road during periods of water accumulation.
The coordination committee decided to consolidate the suggestions and submit them to the relevant authorities and departments. It also plans to create a WhatsApp group to involve more residents and collect additional proposals. The committee said it would continue coordinating organisations, public representatives and officials to move the proposed measures forward within a defined timeframe.
The meeting was chaired by C.K. Anwar, regional president of the coordination committee, while general secretary R.C. Rajeev presented the issues. Kalady panchayat president Pauly Baby delivered the keynote address. District panchayat member Ahilya Sadanandan, block panchayat members Seena Devasikutty and Pushpala Thankappan, panchayat members, representatives of Adi Shankara Institutions, the Public Works Department, merchants’ organisations and auto workers also participated in the discussion.
