On July 30, the Kerala High Court disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking urgent improvements to pedestrian pathways and traffic infrastructure in the East Fort area of Thiruvananthapuram. The PIL had called for the implementation of a comprehensive development proposal submitted by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) and the Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Corporation Ltd. (TDRL).
The petitioners had sought directions to the State Government and the Transport Commissioner to install three foot-over-bridges with escalators to ensure safer and smoother pedestrian and vehicular movement. In addition, the plea urged the authorities to widen the road by acquiring adjacent land, including a portion behind the East Fort bus stop and part of the Central School, and to address the recurrent flooding issues at the bus stand.
Further reliefs included the installation of continuous pedestrian guard rails along both sides of East Fort Road, limited access points around Gandhi Park, and median guard rails to control pedestrian crossing and enhance safety.
In an earlier order, the Court had directed the Chief Engineer to consult the petitioners and consider their concerns before submitting proposals. Based on these discussions, the Transport Commissioner (Respondent No. 2) filed a detailed statement with recommendations aimed at improving pedestrian safety and streamlining bus stand operations. These included:
- Marked pedestrian crosswalks
- Skywalks and proper signage
- Designated bus parking and bays
- Safe, well-lit waiting areas
- Use of electronic platforms for synchronized bus schedules
- Strict traffic regulation enforcement and penalties for violations such as double parking
The Court allowed these proposals to be placed before the Secretary to the Government. Following this, a high-level meeting chaired by the Transport Minister was convened, and its minutes were submitted to the Court. Finding a broad consensus among departments, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji issued timelines for implementing the proposed short-term measures.
Key Directions Issued by the Court:
- Infrastructure Repair: Damaged signage, footpath tiles, and road markings must be repaired or replaced within four months.
- Pedestrian Guard Rails: Installation of continuous guard rails, as suggested, is to be completed within six months.
- Foot Overbridges: The process for constructing two additional foot overbridges—one near the Chala Road entry (after the KSRTC petrol pump) and another at Pazhavangadi (interconnected via skywalk)—must begin within two months.
- Traffic Monitoring: The Transport Commissioner must issue instructions within two weeks to enforce traffic rules and assign an officer to coordinate monitoring efforts, especially to prevent private buses from ending trips at East Fort in violation of regulations.
Regarding long-term measures—such as relocating the bus stand, acquiring land, and removing shops and encroachments—the Court directed that a considered decision on their feasibility be made within two months. If these are not viable, appropriate alternatives must be identified.
In light of these directions and the consensus among stakeholders, the Court disposed of the PIL.
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