Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal

Bantwal, Apr 30: Massive traffic jams brought Vittal town to a standstill for several hours on Thursday, April 30, leaving motorists and pedestrians struggling to navigate the gridlock.

Despite the best efforts of the police and Home Guards at the main junction, the traffic pressure remained overwhelming. While Vittal usually sees high traffic on Tuesdays due to the weekly market or during special events, the congestion on Thursday was particularly severe.

The chaos reportedly began around 9:00 am, triggered by a high volume of vehicles heading toward various wedding ceremonies and functions scheduled for the day. By 10:00 am, the situation escalated, with vehicle queues stretching for kilometres across the town's four major arteries: Palace Road, Mangaluru Road, Salethur Road, and Puttur Road.

The town’s only bypass, Addada Beedi Road, proved insufficient to provide any significant relief. Both commuters and the security personnel stationed on the roads suffered in the stifling combination of rising atmospheric temperatures and heat emitted from the idling vehicles. Pedestrians found it nearly impossible to walk as vehicles occupied the entire width of the roads, exacerbated by a total lack of footpaths.

Local residents have expressed concern that the traffic issue in Vittal will only worsen unless a comprehensive alternative management plan is formulated. Furthermore, there are fears that if the drainage system is not repaired immediately, rainwater will overflow onto the roads during the upcoming monsoon, leading to artificial floods.

The public in and around Vittal has urged elected representatives and concerned officials to take swift action to address these infrastructure lapses before the situation becomes unmanageable.