Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Mar 16: Traffic congestion has increased on National Highway 66 passing through Mangaluru over the past several days, forcing traffic police to make strenuous efforts to regulate the flow of vehicles in many instances.
The junction along NH-66 witnesses heavy vehicular movement and accidents had occurred frequently earlier. A signal light system had existed at the junction in the past but had later been discontinued. Now, in an effort to ensure smoother traffic movement, police have restarted the signal light system.
According to traffic police, vehicles travelling on the national highway are given two minutes, while vehicles coming from other directions are given one minute to cross. The timing has been fixed on an experimental basis and may be revised if required.
Since one-way traffic has been permitted on roads from Pumpwell Circle to the old Kankanady road–Kankanady Circle stretch and on the bypass road from Karavali Circle to Pumpwell Circle, vehicles have been directed to use the national highway as an alternative route.
Due to this change, traffic congestion occurs for some time during the day along the Nanthoor and KPT routes. As one-way traffic is in force from Pumpwell towards Karavali Circle, traffic jams are quite common in the evenings. During such times, traffic police struggle to manage the vehicular movement.
Some bus drivers have expressed dissatisfaction, stating that traffic congestion has increased due to the signal lights and that it has become difficult to reach destinations on time.
Although the traffic signal system has been restarted and traffic police are currently stationed at the spot to guide motorists, some drivers are still getting confused. Until motorists become accustomed to the signal system, there is a possibility of confusion leading to accidents. Hence, there is a need to deploy a larger number of traffic personnel at the junction.
Despite the restart of the signal system, an accident occurred at the junction last week.
Police have also decided to restart the signal light system at the accident-prone Nanthoor Circle, and it is expected to become operational there soon.
Blinking signal lights have already been installed at 23 locations including Padua Cross, Kottara, Kuloor, Panambur and Jeppinamogaru. The first phase of installing signal lights along the entire stretch of National Highway 66 has been completed.
Officials said the signal system has been installed on NH-66 to regulate traffic and alert motorists. The department has also instructed the corporation and police to make alternative traffic arrangements for vehicles.
Currently, traffic pressure has increased at the KPT–Nanthoor junction along the national highway and police have been instructed to manage the situation carefully, said Mangaluru MLA Vedavyas Kamath.
Abdulla Javed Azmi, project director of NHAI Mangaluru, said that signal lights had been installed on NH-66 to facilitate smooth and accident-free movement of traffic.
He stated that, as part of the development of the service road along the highway, preliminary works had already begun. He added that to prevent congestion at junctions, signal lights had been installed and traffic instructions were being issued.