Kerala Human Rights Commission Takes Action on Dangerous Road Conditions
The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) of Kerala has stepped in to address a critical public safety issue. On Tuesday, the commission issued strong directives concerning the dangerous state of traffic management on a major thoroughfare in the capital district.
Commission Directs Immediate Inquiry
Justice Alexander Thomas, the chairperson of SHRC, instructed the Thiruvananthapuram District Collector to order a formal investigation. The probe will focus on the prolonged and unexplained failure of traffic signal lights at three crucial junctions along the busy Karamana–Kaliyikkavila road.
The specific junctions under scrutiny are Pravachambalam, Vellayani, and Nemom. These signals have remained non-functional for an extended period, raising serious safety concerns.
Growing Safety Concerns Prompt Action
The commission acted on its own initiative, known as suo motu, after reviewing a newspaper report. That report highlighted the frequent accidents occurring on this road, directly linking them to the broken traffic signals. The SHRC cited these growing safety risks and the alarming accident rate as the primary reasons for its intervention.
Justice Thomas has tasked the Traffic Assistant Commissioner with leading the inquiry. This official must now answer several pressing questions.
- Why did the traffic signals at these key junctions stop working for so long?
- Who is responsible for this significant lapse in public infrastructure maintenance?
- What measures can prevent such failures from happening again?
Broader Road Safety Audit Ordered
The commission's orders go beyond just the traffic lights. The inquiry must also verify the condition of pedestrian crossings.
The Traffic Assistant Commissioner must check if the zebra crossings on this stretch are clearly marked and visible to both drivers and people walking. Furthermore, in light of the repeated accidents, the SHRC has mandated the identification of specific accident-prone locations as official black spots.
Once identified, authorities must implement immediate precautionary measures at these black spots to prevent further tragedies.
Accountability and Deadlines Set
The District Collector received clear instructions to ensure all relevant departments work together in a coordinated manner. The collector must also issue orders to concerned officials to restore and properly maintain the traffic signal systems without any further delay.
Two separate reports are now required. First, the Traffic Assistant Commissioner must submit a detailed report on all steps taken. This report will go through the City Police Commissioner before reaching the SHRC.
Second, Keltron, the agency responsible for the traffic signal infrastructure, must file its own report on the current status of the signal lights.
High-Level Meeting Scheduled
To ensure accountability, the commission has summoned senior officials for a personal appearance. Representatives from the District Collector's office, the District Police Chief, the Managing Director of Keltron, and the Traffic Assistant Commissioner must all attend.
This high-level meeting is scheduled for February 5th at the office of Justice Thomas. The officials will need to explain the situation and present their plans for corrective action directly to the commission.
This decisive move by the State Human Rights Commission underscores the urgent need to address infrastructure failures that directly endanger citizens' lives on Kerala's roads.
