The junction at the Army Recruitment Office is a picture of chaos during day. At night, in the absence of proper street lighting, the junction poses great risk for pedestrians and commuters.
The four-road junction has been badly designed. The four roads – two roads coming from Pattabhpiram – cut diagonally to two roads –leading to Venkataramana Colony and Shyamala Nagar. Commuters going towards Shyamala Nagar would have to watch out for vehicles coming from Venkataramana Colony.
The chaos gets worse during peak hours and poses a dangerous risk to students going towards Sri Venkateswara Bala Kuteer and Indian Springs School. As two-wheelers, cars, school buses, and lorries speed past the narrow lanes and come to a screeching halt at the junction, the pedestrians are often put to risk.
“The traffic is chaotic with vehicles coming from all the four directions. Water tankers emptying into the tank opposite the recruitment office pose a great threat as lorries are parked haphazardly,” says N.B.V. Chalapathi Rao, a resident of Shyamala Nagar 8th lane.
For such a vital road junction, the absence of speed-breakers or a traffic island, compounds the misery of people. The junction is not being manned by traffic police. “The number of vehicles swells whenever the railway gate is closed,” rues a shop-keeper.
Residents of Shyamala Nagar also complain about blind corners on the streets. “The blind corner at 8th Cross in Shyamala Nagar poses a threat to vehicle commuters. City buses, college buses (from Master Mind campus and Reddy hostel) and autorickshaws ply on this road,” Mr. Rao adds.
The traffic could be regulated by making minor adjustments. Vehicles coming from Pattabhipuram could be routed to Venkataramana Colony by taking a left turn before the Swimming Pool instead of touching the Recruitment Office junction, while a free passage could be ensured for vehicles coming from Shymala Nagar and Venkataramana Colony.
