Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Sep 3: Last month, daijiworld.com and Daijiworld 24x7 TV channel had carried an exclusive report about the rampant traffic violations at Hampankatta junction, wherein many commuters were caught on camera sneaking through barricades, especially at night.
Take serious note of the report, the city traffic police has now replaced the plastic barricades with solid metals ones that cannot be moved easily.
Then and now
The video footage shot by Daijiworld 24x7 TV team highlighted that many two-wheeler riders and auto rickshaw drivers, and even cars, were breaking the traffic rules at Hampankatta. The footage showed some motorists sneaking through the small gaps to enter the opposite side of the junction instead of making a U-turn at the deputed spot.
The plastic barricades that were installed earlier were easily movable, tempting many to break the traffic regulations. Moreover, they would also get blown away in strong winds and rain, and commuters or the traffic police used to place them back in their respected places.
Following Daijiworld 24x7 TV team''s video recording of the rampant violations, the traffic department has now removed the plastic barricades and has installed metal barricades to stop the commuters from breaking the rules.
The locals have praised the traffic department for installing the metal barricades. One passer-by speaking to Daijiworld said, "When the plastic barricades were installed, we were facing lot of problems. After 10:30 pm in the night, auto rickshaw drivers and motorists used to move the barricades aside and cross the junction. Traffic problems had increased due to the plastic barricades."
Uday N Kumar, ACP (traffic), speaking to daijiworld said that the plastic barricades were old and had to be swapped with the new metal ones. "We have got 500 metal barricades and we are using them in various places and especially in the Hampankatta junction, as the barricades are playing a vital role in controlling the traffic."
On the possibility of constructing a permanent divider, the ACP said that the traffic department has requested the Mangalore city corporation to build it. "The MCC has accepted our request and has called tenders, and very soon the divider will be constructed. These barricades serve as temporary measures to control the traffic," he added.
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