FREE-FOR-ALL: Ramavarappadu Ring in Vijayawada presents a picture of chaos.

VIJAYAWADA: People residing near Ramavarappadu Ring on National Highway No. 5 witness at least one minor accident every day.

Collision of vehicles, resulting in smashing of windowpanes followed by shriek cries of the injured in road accidents has become the order of the day.

All shopkeepers around the junction know the toll-free telephone number 108, as they dial the number frequently.

Lorry drivers blamed

"Motorcyclists and auto-rickshaw drivers are sufferers, while lorry drivers are offenders in most cases," observes P. Vijayalakhsmi, a cement dealer, whose shop is located opposite Kranthi Restaurant at the Ring Road.

Five roads, including four arterial roads, join this junction located on National Highway No. 5. Besides the highway, a road from Gunadala, another one from Currency Nagar and a service road - parallel to the highway - intersect the junction. The service road merges into the junction and people using this road to go towards Eluru or Gunadala side must take a right turn.

"Many a time, speeding lorries entering into the city collide with vehicles crossing the highway from the service road. The high speed of vehicles is a major cause of worry," Ms. Vijayalakshmi says.

A bus stop near the junction, where Eluru-bound buses halt for a while, is another setback for the free flow of vehicular traffic.

Vehicle drivers going towards Eluru side are forced to stop their vehicles near the junction due to halting of RTC buses. Bus stops located on either side of Gunadala road also obstruct free flow of vehicular movement.

Absence of zebra crossings cause inconvenience to pedestrians, including schoolchildren.

According to the traffic police, 8 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. is the peak time for vehicular movement.

"But, most of the accidents occur during lean hours," observes S. Sai Babu, a constable on traffic duty at the junction.

Opening of a new road connecting Gunadala road and the National Highway around Babu Jagjeevanram statue will ease traffic snarls at the junction, he says.

Inspector of police (traffic) A. Joshi says plans are afoot to install traffic signal lights at the junction.

"A proposal has been sent to the National Highway Authority of India to take up painting of zebra crossings at all traffic junctions on the highway, including Ramavarappadu Ring.

The works are expected to be completed very soon," he says.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail