Ever since the stretch between Puthur Four Roads Junction and Gitanjali Medical Centre Junction, in the city was made a ‘one way' a few months ago, residents of many colonies off the Vayalur Main Road have been forced to negotiate multiple traffic bottlenecks during their daily commute.
While the move has kept traffic away from the narrow stretch, it has created new traffic bottlenecks near the government hospital, near which several shops and a temple are located, posing difficulties to pedestrians, two-wheeler and four-wheeler riders. Consequent to the implementation of the new regulation, motorists are not allowed to enter the Vayalur Road from Four Roads Junction and traffic has been diverted via the road adjacent to Annal Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital to reach the Vayalur Main Road. Steel barricades have been put up at the junction to prevent vehicles entering the road. Of late, barricades were also placed at road intersections along the Puthur High Road to prevent motorists from taking the by-lanes to reach the Vayalur Road.
The road running along the government hospital, incidentally, also happens to be the ‘halt' for all mini buses heading to Kulumani, Ettarai and Vayalur among other places. Traffic from areas like Cantonment, Woraiyur and Puthur converge at this junction thereby creating congestion many a times. Pedestrians especially find it difficult to manoeuvre their way to cross the busy road with criss-crossing buses and autos. “I am worried about my safety whenever I cross the road. I always have be alert of a bus or any other vehicle suddenly appearing from behind ,” says Johnson, a pedestrian.
Traffic police personnel can be spotted mainly during the morning hours at this junction, and that too only on some days. In the evenings, kids running from the opposite direction to catch hold of the buses without paying heed to bustling traffic are not an uncommon sight.
For people like Sathiaseelan, a professor at Bishop Heber College, the road spells chaos and confusion. Reiterating that traffic regulation is the need of the hour, Mr.Sathiaseelan says that with buses parked on one side, and people from the hospital attempting to cross the road to the medical shop, the area has become very difficult to navigate even in a car.
“We never know when a vehicle comes from the opposite direction as there is confusion always. If a traffic constable is stationed at the area at least during peak hours it will solve many problems,” says a driver.
With the Vayalur Road being the only access for residents of colonies right up to Vayalur and beyond, it is time that the traffic police come up with comprehensive traffic management plan on this rapidly expanding locality, feel locals.
