Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Motorists on Alagarkoil Road now heave a sigh of relief

S. Sundar

MADURAI: Motorists using the Alagarkoil Road now heave a sigh of relief as the stretch between Ambedkar statue and Race Course Road Junction has been made one-way, again.

The series of experiments carried out by the city police, after making it a two-way thoroughfare, did create a lot of confusion. Not only did it lead to traffic congestion, but also posed a threat to the lives of road users. The close proximity of two road junctions with multi-directional vehicular traffic (within a 70-foot-stretch) was the reason.

The Corporation building near the statue was serving as a traffic island and all vehicles proceeding to Pudur from Tallakulam side had go around it. Traffic on the return direction was allowed on the Alagarkoil Road.

But, when the system was changed the same Corporation building was a hindrance. For, it hid the vision of drivers of vehicles coming from both New Natham Road and Tallakulam. Though two policemen were posted to regulate traffic, there was always the danger of vehicles meeting with accidents. Often they could not regulate vehicles proceeding to these junctions from Pudur and Race Course Road.

The two rows of rubber speed-breakers on the approach road connecting New Natham Road with Alagarkoil Road were a major hindrance. Almost all two-wheeler riders with a pillion rider fumbled at this point. Later, one of the rows of speed-breakers was removed.

And it resurfaced on the Alagarkoil Road right on the stop line. But this experiment too failed, as vehicles (proceeding to Pudur) queued up on the road beyond Ambedkar statue. This blocked all vehicles (coming from Pudur and Race Course Road) from taking a left turn to reach New Natham Road. And it was chaos on all roads. A few accidents near this junction in the past had prompted the police officials to make the change. But the change was no better as it led to more accidents. Now that the old system of traffic has been restored, the city police can spare the services of two traffic constables for regulation duty elsewhere.

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