Kerala High Court orders authorities to fix dangerous road bumps near Kochi Metro pillars

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed authorities to immediately fix dangerous raised portions of roads near metro pillars in Kochi [Pauly Vadakkan v State of Kerala & ors].Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar VM passed order on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition flagging multiple fatal accidents linked to the uneven road surfaces around Metro pillars in Kochi. The Court observed that the issues raised in the PIL required careful consideration as it disclosed unsafe road conditions which had led to several accidents and loss of lives."The issues raised in this Public Interest Litigation require careful consideration, as they disclose hazardous road conditions prevailing along the metro rail corridors within the city of Kochi. The petitioner has highlighted several instances in which the sinking of road surfaces near metro W.P.(PIL) No. 81 of 2026 -3- pile caps has led to accidents resulting in loss of life," the Court added.Taking note of the issue, the Court directed authorities to immediately identify, level and permanently fix all such uneven road potions surrounding Metro pillars across Kochi.It also ordered that adequate safety measures be put in place, including clear warning boards, reflective road markers, rumble strips and protective installations around Metro pillars.Further, it directed the Kochi Municipal Corporation to appoint a technical committee or an expert agency to conduct a detailed safety audit of all roads along the metro pillar bases and submit a report before the next hearing on June 11.The Court also directed the Secretary of the Corporation to convene an urgent meeting with the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), the District Collector and the PWD (Roads) Division, to ensure that immediate steps are taken to restore road safety and address the issue in a coordinated manner..The plea was filed by journalist Pauly Vadakkan raising serious concerns over the uneven road levels around the metro pillar bases, where concrete pile caps remained elevated while surrounding asphalt had sunk, creating sudden bumps on the road reaching a height of about 3 to 4 inches.According to the petition, these protrusions (any feature that sticks up or extends above the normal surface level of the road) are dangerous as they are not easily visible, especially at night, increasing the risk of accidents for motors, particularly two-wheeler riders.The petitioner stated that these road conditions on busy traffic roads, such as Sahodaran Ayyappan Road, MG Road and the Edapally stretches were very dangerous for the commuters using these roads.He referred to multiple fatal accidents to highlight the seriousness of the issue, including the recent death of a 26-year-old IT professional near Kalamassery in February 2026, after his motorcycle allegedly lost control near a Metro pillar.The plea also mentioned several other accidents near Edapally and Vytilla, stating that such incidents have been recurring over the years. "It is respectfully submitted that a detailed news report dated 12-01-2026 published in The New Indian Express highlights the existence of such protrusions across the city, particularly near metro pillars, and records that these “bumps” rise three to four inches above the road surface and have been causing frequent accidents, especially involving two-wheelers. The report further states that such hazards have existed for nearly two years and remain unattended by the authorities, despite repeated incidents," the petition added.Despite repeated accidents and public complaints, the plea stated that authorities failed to take corrective steps.The petitioner further alleged the corporation and KMRL were shifting the the blame on each other .While KMRL has refused to take responsibility stating that post-construction road maintenance fell outside its scope, the corporation cited financial and administrative constraints for lack of action.The plea pointed out that even basic safety measures such as warning, boards, reflective markings and protective barriers have not been properly installed around the Metro pillars, making the roads even more dangerous for daily commuters. .The petitioner sought directions against the respondents to fix these roads immediately by levelling the raised portions and making the surface even.Further, the petitioner also prayed for setting up of an expert committee to conduct a safety audit as well as identification of dangerous spots across Metro corridors and requested the Court to fix the responsibility of repairing such roads on one authority to ensure that such accidents do not occur in the future..The petitioner filed through advocates Jomy K Jose, Salman Faris and Riya A..[Read Order].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.