Traffic signals at Sulur town are remaining defunct for a very long time leading to uncontrolled vehicular movement on the busy part of Tiruchi road here.
Signals installed in at least three places are not functioning due to technical glitches, according to police sources.
Traders and autorickshaw drivers in Sulur say that repair of the signals needs urgent attention as accidents are frequent at the place.
Coimbatore District (Rural) Police in June had identified Sulur town as one of the accident prone areas between Chinthamani Pudur and Karanampettai, a seven-km stretch of the Coimbatore - Tiruchi highway which is yet to be widened. Fifteen persons were killed in accidents reported along the stretch in six months from January 2018. Chinthamani Pudur and Kalangal Road junction were the other two accident prone places identified by police.
“Vehicle movements at three junctions at Sulur town are uncontrolled as signals are not functional. Manual regulation of traffic by police is also lacking at the places,” said a trader who did not want to be named.
As the stretch also lacked median, motorists often tend to take unnecessary overtaking and plied on the wrong side leading to accidents, he added.
Though Coimbatore District (Rural) Police, Highways Department and the Road Transport Authority had conducted joint inspections at Sulur and other accident prone areas, no preventive measures have been taken.
Superintendent of Police for Coimbatore Rural R. Pandiarajan said that he would inspect the stretch and take appropriate measures that could be taken from the side of Police Department.
“Measures will also be taken to set right the defunct traffic signals at the earliest,” said Mr. Pandiarajan.
