Concern over digital master boards at junctions creating blind spots, obstructing pedestrians
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A digital master board at Manorama Junction in the city protrudes into the road, creating blind spots and obstructing pedestrian movement. | Photo Credit: H. VIBHU
Even as the Kochi Corporation has ordered the removal of advertisement and flex boards that impeded safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians, the number of digital master boards at junctions is going up, creating blind spots and also obstructing pedestrian movement.
The police, NGOs, and residents associations have expressed serious reservations about the matter. “Most of these towering boards that are approximately 1.50 metres wide have been erected at bottlenecked junctions, which have nil or very little space demarcated for motorists to take free-left turns. This often worsens traffic hold-ups at junctions. They also impede safe movement of pedestrians, since many such boards encroach on footpaths and pedestrian pathways,” traffic police officials said.
K.S. Dileep Kumar, president of Ernakulam Vikasana Samithi, said electric and telecom/internet cable posts were posing a safety hazard for road users, especially at junctions. “Vendors and other encroachers continue to occupy precious space on footpaths and pavements, despite multiple orders from the Kerala High Court to civic agencies to clear them. The digital master boards of the Kochi Corporation that are being erected to display advertisements at junctions, has come as the last straw, with safety implications. Most of these very tall and wide boards create ‘blind spots’ by hampering the view of drivers and pedestrians at junctions,” he said.
Such boards have been exhibited at junctions on M.G. Road, including at Madhava Pharmacy Junction and on Rajaji Road, he added.
Mr. Dileep Kumar had earlier this year submitted a complaint to the Kochi Corporation regarding the issue, and also about bus shelters and bunk shops that occupy the entire width of footpaths, which in turn force pedestrians to walk along the road.
Corporation officials said steps would be taken to remove or relocate such boards, if they posed a safety hazard and hampered the movement of vehicles and pedestrians.
P.M. Naseema, chairperson of the town planning standing committee of the Kochi Corporation, said college students are conducting a survey regarding the type of master board — digital, LED and others — that can be placed at junctions. “The road safety safety implications ought to be looked into. Although the decision to install them was taken well over a year ago, the ideal spots to install them had not been decided. There were complaints about one such board in front of Subhash Bose Park, after which the Corporation issued notice to the firm concerned to inform the Town Planning Committee in advance,” she added.
“Complaints and concerns on the issue will be looked into and a decision will be taken at the earliest. The master boards were apparently conceived to inform members of the public about civic matters. In addition, advertisements too were mooted in order to garner revenue. We have already directed the firm concerned to change their design, since the boards are far too big and need better aesthetics,” Ms. Naseema said.
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