The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Traffic jams are a regular feature here

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 14, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Traffic jams are a regular feature here

S. Harpal Singh

In a jam: Traffic snarls on the road leading to the industrial area in Adilabad.

ADILABAD: South Central Railway (SCR) has sought the help of Adilabad district administration and the Road Transport Authority (RTA) in curbing accidents at level crossings that result in trains getting delayed.

Even a minor jolt to the barrier at the manned level crossing (MLC) near agriculture market results in breakdown of the gate inter-locking system due to which trains have to be delayed.

Five such accidents this year forced officials of SCR connected with safety to request the administration and RTA to conduct ‘ambush’ checks of vehicles at the unmanned level crossing near spinning mill and the MLC. Once the request is okayed, RTA officials will keep vehicle drivers under observation for violation of traffic rules at these spots. “No sooner the barrier is lifted after a train crosses the gate, drivers rush towards the respective directions. If the barrier controlled by an inter-locking system takes a hit, trains cannot be allowed to pass due to failure of computerised system. Passage of trains is thus rendered unsafe. Every time this happens, trains get delayed by about 30 minutes,” explained an official.

Traffic congestion is becoming increasingly bothersome because the MLC is closed for traffic 17 times a day for about 10 minutes every time. Within such a time hundreds of vehicles of all description that are proceeding towards the cotton processing units and agriculture market get stuck.

The queue of vehicles also affects the movement of traffic on the NH 7 at Punjab chowk.

Imagine the problem when the 10 coal rakes are permitted to move on this line.

The only way out of the problem is construction of the railway over bridge (ROB) at the place.

Temporary relief by way of widening the road at the MLC is ruled out because Railway regulations do not permit a width of more than 7.5 metres for roads.

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