Motorists wait for their turn at Pottamal Junction on Saturday, where the PWD and traffic police are planning to implement better alignment for smooth traffic. , Photo credits: K. Ragesh
The Traffic Police and the Public Works Department (Roads) are considering the scope of realignment of some critical traffic intersections in the city limits to improve road safety.
In the first phase, Pottamal and Chevayur junctions will be selected for realignment work.
The effort is to reduce the frequent accidents involving motorists and pedestrians around these places. Police officers from the city traffic wing point out that the complexity of these junctions often leaves drivers confused. He said newcomers to the city struggle to read the complex alignment at these junctions, which have no adaptive traffic control system.
A recent safety audit conducted by some senior traffic police officials indicated that modernization of complex traffic intersections would ease city traffic and eliminate the possibility of collisions. Now, accidental violations of the rules and the attempts of some drivers to bypass the complex signal system pose a serious danger.
The safety audit has also found that even after several years of construction, most of the problematic spots still have not changed the traditional alignment. Many motorists in the city said that the existing roundabout at Pottamal Junction is highly unscientific and needs to be redesigned. He also said that efforts should be made to streamline the traffic intersections near the Medical College Hospital.
“PWD officials have responded positively to our suggestions regarding restructuring. On completion of their area visits, we are expecting a concrete action plan,” said a senior city traffic police officer. He said that the PWD wing would inspect all the sensitive spots in the city suggested by the police to check their feasibility.
The pattern of accidents in recent years also prompted the police to take a close look at the existing design of traffic intersections in the city limits and propose a viable action plan. On completion of the realignment work, the traffic wing is also planning to launch a safety campaign for motorists and pedestrians with focus on healthy driving habits at busy junctions.