Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

A nightmare for motorists

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE, AUG. 18. Traffic chaos is a daily affair at the Ondipudur junction. Blame it on the flyover construction at level-crossing 145 on Nagapattinam Gudalur Mysore (NGM) road, now NH 67. Absence of facilities for pedestrians and cycle tracks and reckless driving of motorists add to the congestion.

According to officials, traffic congestion is due to the failure of private and public transport operators to follow the rules. "We have formulated norms directing heavy and lightweight vehicles to take a diversion from Ondipudur to NH 67, but no one listens," says Project I officials of the flyover project. The flyover construction has been going on for more than a year now.

To ease traffic congestion in Ondipudur area during the construction, diversion of traffic was implemented at three levels. Heavy vehicles, town buses and vans would take the diversion near Aerodrome Road via Irugur Panchayat Union Road and Chinniampalayam covering an additional distance of 4.5 km before joining the NH 67. Lightweight vehicles should take Pattanampudur, Weaver's Colony and Thiruvalluvar Nagar to join the NH. Lorries and long-distance buses would ply from Singanallur via Peelamedu and Chinniampalayam and join the L&T bypass road covering an additional distance of seven km.

"Long-distance buses from Tirupur, Palladam, Dharapuram and Kangeyam prefer Irugur Road (which is a shorter distance and they can undertake 10 trips) instead of Avinashi Road to earn a fast buck," says N. Logu, Secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Voice.

. "Students, teachers and office-goers from Tagore Nagar, Weaver's Colony, Peedampalli, Kamakshipuram, Kasthuri Nagar and Anna Nagar invariably use the bus stand on Irugur Road. During peak hours, accidents do occur but so far there has been no casualty," says V. Gajendran, a flower seller near the flyover site.

R. Lalitha, a schoolteacher, says a temporary arrangement like posting a traffic constable would solve most of the problems.

Total cost 16.5 crs.

The total cost of the flyover project was estimated at Rs. 16.5 crores. Of this, Rs. 9.61 crores was for the Highways Department (towards construction of road) and Rs. 4.72 crores for the Railways Department for development works at the level crossing. The balance of Rs. 2.27 crores would be utilised for construction of diversion roads, shifting of electric poles and TWAD (Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board) pipelines and fencing of the open jail compound in Ondipudur.

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