Tiruchi Road is generally regarded as one of the arterial roads with less traffic congestion. But the Singanallur junction on the busy stretch is an exception.
Though it takes barely 10 minutes drive to reach Singanallur from Ramanathapuram, motorists are forced to wait in the queue of vehicles at the Singanallur junction most of the time. During peak hours, many motorists could cross the junction only after getting the second green signal.
Though managed to cross the signal, buses halting immediately after the signal and vehicles taking ‘free left’ entry to Tiruchi Road from Hopes College (Kamarajar Road) again choke the traffic. Due to this, vehicle users are unable to move towards Ondipudur and they get halted in the middle of the junction causing entry of vehicles from the opposite side to Kamarajar Road. During busy hours, vehicles line up for more than 20 minutes.
The situation is equally bad for motorists from Ondipudur wanting to proceed towards Ramanathapuram or Kamarajar Road, says Ramesh Kumar, who works in a manufacturing firm on Tiruchi Road. What adds to the traffic woes is that the intersections in the median, one near Uzhavar Sandhai, another near Singanallur lake and another near the Perks School. They need to be manned by a police personnel at least during peak hours.
The pile up of vehicles at these places also contribute to the snarl at the Singanallur junction.
Though Singanallur police station is located right in front of the junction, the traffic chaos are often left unattended. Posting of some more cops to deter violations such as signal jumping is another ad-hoc solution while a flyover could be a long term solution, says Shanmugam, who commutes daily via this junction. Bus stops at Singanallur junction on either side of Tiruchi Road need to be shifted, adds Revathy Shanmugam.
According to the police, signals at the junction are working properly and traffic police are posted when there is a power issue. “Bus stops close to the signals are creating the main problem. Only the Corporation has the right to relocate them,” said a senior police officer.
K. Kathirmathiyon of Coimbatore Consumer Cause and member of Road Safety Committee, said that several signals in the city had been facing the issue due to unscientific positioning of bus stops.
“It is the duty of the Corporation to consult with the Road Transport Authority and the police while selecting the location of the bus stops. The civic body gives the work to the contractor who constructs the bus stops at places considering the advertisement leverage. As per norms, the bus stops should be placed more than 100 metres away from the signals,” said Mr. Kathirmathiyon.
