Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Kaup (SP)

Kaup, Apr 29: The police, in an attempt to clear a five-hour traffic jam at Katapadi junction on National highway on Sunday April   28, barricaded the main cross at the junction. As a result, vehicles which got stranded had to take a detour of six km to reach the other side of the junction. This situation also gave rise to exchange of heated words between the police and the people.

Katapadi junction located at Katapadi downtown is one of the important junctions on national highway stretch between Mangaluru and Udupi. On the east side of the junction, the road leading to Shirva and Manipura, which is always crowded, is located. The road to the west leads to Katapadi downtown and bus stand besides Mattu and Palligudde villages. This junction therefore often witnesses traffic snarls.

Because of various auspicious occasions lined up on Sunday, traffic problem had become a common occurrence at Katapadi since Sunday morning. As vehicles from all the four roads tried to enter the highway at the junction, a traffic block resulted. The police personnel, who later arrived at the spot, tried their best to ease the jam. Some locals also joined hands with the police.

The problem however continued till 1 pm. The police circle inspector from here, Shantaram, who arrived at the spot later, closed the U-turn cross at the junction with barricades. As such, vehicles coming in from the direction of Shirva were sent towards Mangaluru and vehicles coming from Katapadi downtown were sent in the direction of Udupi instead of allowing them to directly cross the road and reach the other side. Vehicles were allowed to only move on two directions, Mangaluru and Udupi.

Therefore, vehicles coming from Shirva towards Udupi and Katapadi had to move till Moodabettu U-turn three km away and come back to Katapadi by travelling six kilometers additionally. Vehicles from Katapadi bound for Shirva had to move three kilometers till Udyavar Bypass and then return three km to Katapadi.

Auto rickshaw drivers, motor bike riders and locals, who were affected by this arrangement, had an argument with the police circle inspector. They pointed out that this arrangement was forcing people to cover six km instead of 100 meters. They noted that there were no police personnel to man the junction in spite of traffic block since morning.

It is said that the police were deputed on account of chief minister's visit to Udupi district to take part in a function and then undergo treatment near here.

The traffic jam was cleared in about four to five hours later. About 45 minutes later, the police removed the barricades set up at the junction.

Need for signal

The then district superintendent of police, Laxman Nimbargi, who realized the problem faced at this junction, had proposed to the national highways authority of India to arrange for traffic signals at three junctions on national highway here, but the department did not uphold the proposal. The locals who are facing lot of problems have reiterated their earlier demand for installing traffic signal at Katapadi junction and deployment of police personnel on permanent basis.