With the new traffic rule barring movement of vehicles from Balmatta towards Bendoorwell Junction coming into effect on Monday, motorists were left a confused lot. Some people did not take it nicely as they had to travel longer to reach their destination.
The policeman posted at the busy Balmatta Junction had a tough time preventing motorists from taking a right turn towards Sahodaya Road. Some motorists followed his advices, but a few did argue with him. Another policeman had to make a lot of effort to prevent buses from parking close to the junction lest they obstruct the smooth flow of vehicles.
The police have barred on a temporary basis the movement of traffic from the Horticulture Junction to Balmatta and from Bendoorwell to Horticulture Junction.
Autorickshaw drivers wanted the police to allow a U-turn for vehicles coming from Jyothi Circle to reach Hemavati building that houses doctors. Bus commuters were seen standing near the Balmatta Circle to catch buses to Puttur and other areas and at the Bendoorwell Circle (for buses going to Kulshekar) only to be told by the police about the changed rules.
Among the first to feel the inconvenience were parents and motorists coming to drop students at St. Theresa School, which is near the Horticulture Junction, around 8 a.m. Some of the vehicles coming down from the St. Agnes College were stuck as those ahead were prevented by the police from taking a right turn towards SCS Hospital. The police also prevented vehicles carrying students from parking on the road.
“We were taken off guard by this new rule. Some of vehicles were stuck while some had parked their vehicles 100 metres away . This resulted in the school starting late by 15 minutes,” said school’s principal Sr. Premita. The police wanted the school to allow entry of vehicles bringing children into the school premises. Those coming from Kadri bound towards Horticulture Department or SCS Hospital were confused and were seen stopping at Horticulture Junction. The police directed them to move towards Bendoorwell where four traffic policemen were deployed to prevent vehicles from Karavali Junction taking a right turn towards Horticulture Junction.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Uday Naik said inconvenience would be there till motorists got used to the traffic movement. He said buses coming from Karavali junction, which were presently stopping at the Bendoorwell Junction, would be asked to stop a little ahead.
More one-ways in the offingCity Police Commissioner R. Hithendra said the police was considering introducing one-way movement of traffic in some other narrow roads in the city.
Talking to reporters after a function here on Monday, Mr. Hithendra said many concreted roads did not have footpaths.
He said smooth flow of traffic on such roads could be ensured if they were widened or if one-way movement of traffic was introduced.
