Next time when you talk over mobile phone and drive your vehicle, be sure you have Rs. 1,000 in your pocket to pay as fine, if caught by the police.
At a Road Safety and Traffic Advisory Committee meeting, presided over by Collector Anshul Mishra, in the presence of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) R. Thirunavukarasu and other officers from various departments and representatives of trade bodies and service organisations, it was decided to impose fines as per the Act against erring drivers who were spotted talking over mobile phones while driving vehicles. If the drivers did not stop, the challan should be sent by post to their homes after capturing the registration number through camera, it was decided at the meeting.
The need for regulating mini buses, share autorickshaws and autorickshaws was raised at the meeting. When the air horn menace was pointed out, officials from the Transport Department informed that in a recent drive, they had removed over 50 air horns from heavy vehicles. A circular had been sent to all educational institutions and transport operators in this regard.
Electric posts on many roads within the city and its peripheries obstructed free flow of vehicles, it was pointed out. The Collector instructed the officials to take a list of such poles and make alternative arrangements.
One-way
While a majority of the road users welcomed the recently introduced one-way traffic system on Ghokale Road and Alagarkoil Road, the officials were told to explore the possibilities of similar arrangements in other parts of the city. The Collector wanted the traffic police to find ways for smooth flow of vehicles from Race Course Stadium towards Pandyan Hotel, and from Regional Passport Office to Alagarkoil Road. The need for pedestrian crossing on Alagarkoil Road in Tallakulam also figured at the meeting.
When the issue of congestion due to parking of vehicles in front of American college shopping complex was raised, the Collector wanted the shopping complex owner to provide ample space for parking. “Public roads cannot be taken over for parking. Whether it is a commercial complex or multi-storeyed building, the promoters had the accountability to provide space for vehicle parking,” he said and wanted action taken in this regard within a fortnight.
The need to shift onion merchants from Marret streets to the wholesale vegetable market and the retail foodgrain merchants from East Masi Street to decongest traffic in the localities were discussed. It was informed that the foodgrains merchants had availed government subsidy and built godowns on the outskirts of the city, but also operated from the city thus posing hindrance to free flow of vehicles. Though a representative from the foodgrains association explained that they were in no way causing problems to vehicular movement, Mr. Mishra wanted the trade bodies to support in not only decongesting traffic, but also keep the city free from pollution.
MLAs’ suggestions
Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA R. Annadurai wanted the authorities to extend the operation of city buses to Kodai Road. With the city expanding vastly, the buses could extend its operations from its present 35 km radius to at least 50 km thus covering places such as Kodai Road, Peraiyur, Mattaparai, Pappapatti, Kalkurichi among other places, he said.
Melur MLA R. Samy wanted the NHAI to build an approach road and subway near the Soorakudi-Kallampatti junction as frequent accidents occurred there. The public have been demanding it for the last two years.
