The Tirupur Consumer Voice (TCV) has slammed the city police's recent decision to introduce one-way traffic on the stretch along Tirupur-Uthukuli road as part of traffic reforms stating it as “causing by and large more inconvenience than serve any purpose”.
The one-way traffic is applicable for the about 1.5 km stretch from T.M. F. Hospital to railway level crossing no: 132.
“Considering that the sector is wide enough to freely accommodate two-way traffic, the reform looks obtuse,” TCV secretary P. Somasundaram said.
He pointed out that due to the introduction of one-way traffic, people coming from the eastern side of the city to the railway station now had no other choice but to travel many additional kilometers to reach the destination.
“Likewise, a good chunk of the 7,000 – odd students of Jaiva Bhai Corporation Girls Higher SecondarySchool who come from Mannarai, Palaikadu and the nearby hamlets situated on the eastern half now have to walk about two- and-a-half kilometers from the railway level crossing No: 132 to the school," Mr. Somasundaram said.
Poor speed breakers
The TCV expressed displeasure over the continued existence of ill-conceived speed breakers across the city, which did not confirm to the standards prescribed by the Indian Road Congress (IRC), despite repeated representations from road users in this regard.
According to IRC norms, speed breakers should be set up in pairs and separated approximately by three feet so that the vehicles were forced to slow down but not damaged.
Similarly, the speed breakers should be marked with reflective paints and illuminated with reflectors to make it visible during night hours.
“But these things are not followed in the city making the speed breakers a death trap in the night especially for motorcyclists,” Mr. Somasundaram said.
He also came down heavily on the officials concerned who give permission to put raised platforms for political and public functions on the roads.
“It blocks traffic and the poles used for erecting dais damage the blacktop surface,” he said.
