The city of Visakhapatnam might soon have a multi-layer and grade-separator flyover, if the proposal of the traffic department is cleared by the Government and the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC).
The growing traffic problem in the city has been worrying the Traffic Police Department, with the problems increasing with every passing day.
One major reason cited is that the geographical area of the city has not grown in commensurate with the number of vehicles on road.
In 1970s the number of vehicles on road was estimated to be around 30,000 and in 2012 it was about 5.5. lakhs. And at present it has crossed the 9 lakh mark. In just four years, the number has increased by about 4 lakhs. It is estimated that about 60,000 vehicles add- on to the existing number every year.
The rise in the number of vehicles is not only contributing to the increase in accidents, but is leading to regular traffic snarls, slowing down of traffic movement or flow and parking probelm.
Despite taking up some major road engineering initiatives at strategic locations such as Hanumanthawaka Junction, Jagadamba Junction, Vemana Mandir road, Maddilapalem, Siripuram and Satyam Junction, traffic snarls have become a daily issue at key junctions such as the NAD Kotha Road, Maddilapalem, Jagadamba and Satyam Junction, especially during peak hours.
Commissioner of Police T. Yoganand told The Hindu that major initiatives in the road engineering area werebeing worked out to ease out the traffic issues.
It is learnt that among the major initiatives is the construction of a multi-layer and grade-separator flyover at NAD Kotha Road.
According to sources, the flyover will have at least three layers, with one layer catering to two-wheelers and autos, the second layer exclusively for cars and other four-wheelers and the third one will take care of heavy vehicles and buses.
Sources informed that the proposal had to be cleared by the authorities concerned in the Government and the GVMC.
This apart, efforts are also on to negotiate with the Ministry of Defence to pave way for creating a by-pass from the Simhachalam side to NAD Kotha Road, through the NSTL complex. “This will ease traffic to a certain extent and we are holding talks with the officials concerned in the MoD,” said HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao.
Apart from the flyover at NAD Kotha Road, the Traffic Department has proposed another three flyovers to be taken up as priority at Maddilapalem, Hanumanthawaka and Satyam Junction and about 15 foot over bridges, across the city.
According to a Senior Police Officer, a proposal for redesigning the traffic junctions also has been prepared.
