Thrissur: Commuters on the Thrissur–Ernakulam National Highway faced hours of misery as a massive traffic jam stretched for nearly 5 kilometers. The congestion, which started around 11 p.m. last night, spilled over into the morning rush, with vehicles crawling from Muringoor to Potta. The worst choke point was reported at Muringoor, leaving motorists stranded.
Passengers heading to Cochin International Airport via Chalakudy were among the hardest hit, with authorities urging travelers from Palakkad and Thrissur to opt for the Irinjalakuda–Kodungallur–Mala route. Those bound for Ernakulam have been advised to divert through Kodungallur–Paravur to bypass the jam.
The chaos has been blamed on the poor upkeep of service roads alongside the highway, where ongoing flyover construction has worsened the bottlenecks. Adding to the row, the Paliekkara toll plaza remains under legal dispute — with the Kerala High Court ordering a halt in collections and the Supreme Court recently pulling up the concessionaire and National Highways Authority over the issue.
