Traffic came to a standstill on the Aluva-Paravur Road in Kerala after a section of the road was dug up for culvert reconstruction, leaving an ambulance and school vehicles stranded at Marotichuvadu in Karumallur. The disruption was reported on Wednesday and continued into the night, according to Mathrubhumi.
The culvert reconstruction is being carried out as part of the road-tarring work on the Aluva-Paravur route. The work was first undertaken near Kottappuram, where the road is wider and vehicles were able to pass without major difficulty. At the Thatampady-Marotichuvadu junction, however, the road has been cut open in a narrower section, allowing vehicles to move through only one side at a time.
The restricted passage has made traffic movement dependent on orderly vehicle management. According to the report, congestion became severe when vehicles entered from the wrong direction or attempted to cross the temporary movement pattern. Vehicles were then forced to remain in queues for hours, affecting commuters using the route.
Following protests from local residents and travellers, two workers were reportedly assigned to regulate traffic at the worksite. The arrangement reduced the congestion for some time. On Wednesday morning, however, no one was present to control vehicle movement, leading vehicles to enter the narrow passage without coordination and causing the traffic flow to break down.
An ambulance travelling from Aluva towards Paravur was held up for a considerable period before it could cross the affected stretch. School vehicles were also delayed and could not reach all destinations on time, the report said. The disruption extended beyond the morning peak and continued until night, prompting further protests among travellers.
The incident highlights the immediate mobility and safety risks that arise when road construction is carried out on an active corridor without continuous traffic control. The available report does not specify the scheduled completion date for the culvert work, the agency responsible for the project, or whether a formal diversion plan has been issued. Traffic disruption at the Marotichuvadu worksite is expected to remain linked to the progress of the ongoing culvert reconstruction and road-tarring works.
