{
  "id": 14017644,
  "title": "Police to step up surveillance on airport stretch",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/police-to-step-up-surveillance-on-airport-stretch",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T18:11:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/police-to-step-up-surveillance-on-airport-stretch/article71576076.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The police are planning to increase surveillance on the airport stretch of the national highway, a notorious location for fatal collisions among motorists, particularly bike riders. This decision follows a tragic car-two-wheeler collision on Sunday (October 11) that claimed the lives of three youths. Over the past five months, eight people, all bike riders, have lost their lives on this stretch. The wide, well-lit road has recently been luring young speed enthusiasts and those who enjoy filming their rides late at night, as reported by police and residents.\n\nDistrict Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) K.S. Sudarshan announced that patrol will be intensified along the stretch and that footage from surveillance cameras will be scrutinized thoroughly. Bikes that were found to be overspeeding in the past will also be identified, and appropriate action will be taken against erring riders. City police sources indicate that incidents of overspeeding and illegal racing on city roads have significantly decreased due to strict surveillance measures. Previously, Stadium Link Road near Kaloor and the stretch of Chathiath Road along the Queen’s Walkway were notorious for such activities among youths. However, these incidents have not been reported recently.\n\nThe Ernakulam Central police seized four cars in two separate instances in 2025 for allegedly performing stunts on the Queen’s Walkway stretch. Similar to the previous stretch, Stadium Link Road was also a hotspot for bike stunts by young individuals during late hours. However, the practice seems to have halted after the installation of barricades and increased nightlife activity around the stadium. Despite this, the high-revving sound of motorbikes can still be heard from the road post midnight, occasionally. The police are prepared to strengthen surveillance to prevent overspeeding and driving under the influence of intoxicants on these vulnerable stretches.",
  "summary": "The stretch covering areas including Athani Junction and Airport Junction has come under heightened surveillance following the car-two-wheeler collision that claimed the lives of three youths on October 11.",
  "key_points": [
    "Police plan to increase surveillance on airport stretch.",
    "Tragic collision on October 11 claimed three youths' lives.",
    "Eight bike riders have died on stretch in past five months."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}