The streets around Kochi Metro's phase two construction sites have become a daily grind for commuters, and now officials are feeling the pressure to act. On Saturday, Ernakulam District Collector G. Priyanka issued a sharp directive to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL): collaborate with the Motor Vehicles Department and fix the traffic mess—fast.

Key facts

  • Focus area: St. Martin de Porres Church, Palarivattom, to Vazhakkala
  • Inspection date: September 5, 2026
  • Key officials: Deputy Collector A. Shajahan, RTO Biju Issac, KMRL Director M.P. Ramnavas

Behind the Barricades

Ms. Priyanka, who also serves as KMRL Managing Director, walked the stretch between JLN Stadium and SmartCity, Kakkanad, seeing firsthand where barricades choke flow and tempers flare. Her message was clear: remove any unnecessary barriers—but only if public safety isn’t compromised. Every inch of open road matters.

A Push for Progress

It’s not just about traffic. Construction delays also drew her attention. She urged crews to kickstart work on stations at Palarivattom and Padamugal immediately and called on allied agencies like the Kerala State Electricity Board to stop dragging their feet. The metro’s expansion can’t afford to stall.

“Barricades that could be removed from the worksites should be shifted after ensuring public safety, to facilitate smooth traffic.”

Rights Commission Already Watching

This isn’t the first time alarms have sounded. Two weeks earlier, the State Human Rights Commission took suo motu notice of the congestion, directing city police to inspect and address “unscientific barricading.” The Commission specifically named the Palarivattom area—ground zero for commuter frustration.