Death trap in East Fort

The tragic death of a bank official, who was fatally crushed between two buses while crossing the road at a zebra crossing in East Fort, should serve as a wake-up call for the authorities. Such gruesome incidents will recur if steps are not taken to end the competition between KSRTC and private buses. Iravipuram native Ullas was crossing the road to go to the Kerala Bank regional office when the accident occurred. Ullas, who fell after suffering a serious head injury, died within a short period. The drivers of both buses came to know about the accident only when the passengers shouted. The Transport Minister has directed the Transport Commissioner to investigate the accident and submit a report. However, that alone will not solve the issues in East Fort.

For years, East Fort has continued to be a death trap for pedestrians. Every time accidents occur, only temporary arrangements are made, with no attempt by the authorities to find a permanent solution to this issue. Most of those who have lost their lives here are pedestrians trying to cross the road. The main problem in this area is the lack of sufficient space. Vehicles exceeding double the bus stand's capacity are plying in and out of this location. It's a common sight here to see private buses blocking the way of KSRTC buses, making it impossible for KSRTC buses to pass, when they start to leave. The KSRTC bus that came from Kovalam was taking a U-turn to return. Ullas was in front of the bus at this time. Suddenly, a private bus turned right just in front of the KSRTC bus and Ullas got sandwiched between these two buses. Although he was immediately taken to the hospital in a police jeep, he was soon declared dead. In 2018, some reforms were introduced at the bus stand following the death of a woman in a bus accident at this spot. However, none of them were sustained, and everything eventually returned to the old state.

It has been years since some started saying that the bus terminal in East Fort will be shifted to Eenchakkal. However, nothing has happened yet. According to the Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Corporation authorities, the failure to implement the comprehensive development plan for East Fort, due to various reasons, is the cause of the traffic congestion and accidents in the area.

The immediate intervention of the police is required to put an end to the competition between transport and private buses. This competition intensifies if both buses are supposed to head to the same destination. One needs to pass in front of transport buses to board private buses, which increases the risk of accidents. Earlier, some reports had claimed that a market would be built under Gandhi Park and a subway would be constructed to access it. However, none of these plans have materialised so far. In contrast, many other cities with busier junctions have addressed similar issues with detailed planning and execution. It is up to the experts to decide whether an underpass or an overpass should be built in a particular area. Urgent attention from the government and the corporation is required in this regard. It is necessary to prevent such tragic deaths from repeating.