Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Glitches galore at High School Road junction

P. Sujatha Varma

Lack of self-regulation among vehicle users leading to traffic chaos

FREE FOR ALL: Traffic jam at High School Road junction in Patamata is a regular phenomenon. — Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

VIJAYAWADA: Blatant violation of traffic rules is almost a norm at the High School Road junction in Patamata. Even as the traffic constable standing amidst the chaos tries to regulate the surging vehicles from different directions, a lorry driver whizzes past the junction at an alarming speed.

While the humongous bodies of heavy vehicles don't leave an inch of space for passers-by, motorcyclists seem to be in no mood to let go the privilege of scraping through the tiny spaces amidst long rows of vehicles that come to a standstill often here. A traffic signal to regulate vehicular movement for the frenzied section of road-users is conspicuous by its absence. "I don't understand the reason behind their restlessness. A single traffic constable is just not enough to control the messy situation," says a helpless Saibabu, the constable on duty.

Lack of self-regulation on the part of vehicle users is the chief contributor for the traffic chaos here. "We witness a virtual war unleashed by the road-users every morning and evening," says Yerramsetti Venkateswara Rao, a fruit-seller flanking the main road. The junction bears the brunt of incessant flow of vehicles to and from the ever busy NTR Circle, Autonagar, Poranki and High School Road.

Head-on collisions

The High School Road intersection is a point that provides the first U-turn after Autonagar Gate. Drivers of most two-wheelers and auto-rickshaws and at times, even cars, emerging from High School Road or NTR Circle, break the rules and sneak into the road which is meant for vehicles going towards NTR Circle only. Similar is the case with its parallel road also. This leads to head-on collisions. Even fatal accidents occurred owing to this reason at the junction.

Vehicles heading towards any destination located alongside the long stretch will have to invariably take a turn here. Bus stops on either side of the road add to the confusion. "Some RTC drivers stop their vehicles virtually in the middle of the road as they never seem to have enough time to take the bus to the designated stop. Erratic stoppage of just one bus often leads to a road blockade forcing the vehicles behind to screech to a halt.

Unauthorised turns

The glitches can be attributed to more than one reason. Lorry drivers heading towards Autonagar take an unauthorised turn towards the High School Road. "There is nothing much we can do to stop them since the crew say they are on their way to the Rythu Bazar to unload vegetable stocks," explains Saibabu.

The Rythu Bazaar on the High School Road attracts a large number of visitors. In addition, a Zilla Parishad High School with a huge strength of students, three other convents and a stadium contribute to the burgeoning traffic here.

"Besides battling unavoidable problems like the growing congestion, the traffic personnel face a bigger challenge from those who wilfully flout norms," says K. Seeta Reddy, owner of a medical shop.

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