The stretch between Mangalavanam, the most ecologically sensitive region in the city, and Durbar Hall will be declared as a silent zone in coordination with Motor Vehicle, police, and public works departments along with Cochin Smart Mission Limited, Mayor M. Anilkumar has said.

He was delivering the inaugural address at the launch of a project by the Kochi Corporation to deal with the scourge of road accidents starting with turning the city into complete traffic-rule literate, arguably the first of its kind initiative anywhere in the country, at the Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School (GGHSS) on Friday. Anoop Varkey, Deputy Transport Commissioner, Ernakulam, was the chief guest.

The project is being implemented with the Motor Vehicles department with technical support from SCMS Institute for Road Safety. Mr. Anilkumar said that the awareness campaign on road safety would be expanded into a six-month-long programme. Mr. Varkey promised all support to the Corporation in the implementation of the project. He also expressed happiness in selecting GGHSS for initiating the project.

The inaugural function was followed by a road safety awareness class and a training session on technicalities of vehicles. Around 200 students participated in the training and awareness sessions. Kochi Corporation development standing committee chairperson P.R. Ranish presided over the function.