Chaotic traffic has become the order of the day at major junctions in Puducherry thanks to poor traffic management, inadequate posting of police personnel and disregard of rules by motorists and vehicle owner.
Puducherry has witnessed a rapid growth in the number of vehicles in the recent past. The vehicle population has crossed 10 lakh, according to the Transport department data till 2017. With narrow roads, vehicles, particularly at peak hours, choke at major intersections such as Rajiv Gandhi square, Indira Gandhi square and other roads connecting to different National Highways.
The Tindivanam Road from Gorimedu to Rajiv Gandhi square and the Villupuram Road from Villianur to Indira Gandhi square are the main intersections that take in the voluminous traffic entering the city from Chennai and Bengaluru.
The police had recently installed barricades demarcating the free left turn at the Rajiv Gandhi square towards Kamaraj Salai. But it has failed to make any difference.
Pedestrians complain that there is no space left for them to walk at pedestrian crossings near major junctions as they are encroached upon by motorists. Even light motor vehicles jostle for space. As a result, people cross the roads without waiting for the green signal. The situation at Indira Gandhi square is no different.
Both these intersections are classic examples of how ill-planned roads contribute to traffic snarls on a daily basis. The ever increasing vehicular traffic from several directions is resulting in frequent accidents here.
According to an official, “To reduce the inconvenience to road users and ensure the smooth flow of traffic, the government had proposed a flyover connecting the Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi square. Though a detailed project report was prepared, the proposal is now gathering dust.”
Missing signanges
A study conducted by transport planners and engineers of Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) revealed that in Puducherry, 90 per cent of traffic signages are either error-prone or missing altogether.
There is no speed measurement device.
“Traffic is the Achilles heel of Puducherry. Failure to adhere to traffic rules on the part of the road users is a major shortcoming which adds to the confused traffic scenario in Puducherry. The government should now have a relook at the roads and improve the infrastructure on arterial roads. The signals must be synchronised to ensure unhindered traffic flow,” said N. Venkataramani, Area 2 chairman of Round Table India.
