The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Non-functional traffic signals pose problems to road-users

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Friday, May 30, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Non-functional traffic signals pose problems to road-users

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

Pedestrians are at the mercy of motorists to cross busy roads

Dharnas in front of the Secretariat add to the woes of the road users
Poor synchronisation of traffic signals along the arterial road also affecting traffic

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Non-functional traffic signals at busy junctions in the heart of the city is hampering the smooth flow of vehicular traffic and jeopardising the safety of road-users.

The traffic signals on the busy Statue junction, in front of the main gate of the Secretariat and Pattom junction have become non-functional. Confusion prevails among road users and skirmishes between motorists are a regular feature as the traffic signals are situated in the NH 47 stretch passing through the city.

Driving from Spencer Junction to Pulimoodu Junction has turned out to be a nightmare for motorists on account of the non-functional traffic signal at the pelican crossing and Secretariat. The traffic signal at the pelican crossing had been dead for several days. The pedestrians are the worst-hit. Pedestrians use pelican crossing to cross the road as Statue is a crossing point for bus commuters. As the signals do not work, the pedestrians are at the mercy of motorists to cross the busy road.

The vehicles coming from Palayam and Cantonment side had to endlessly wait to take a right turn to proceed to General Hospital Junction. Dharnas in front of the Secretariat add to the woes. The traffic police had not posted additional personnel near the pelican crossing or the Statue junction to mitigate the problem of the road users.

At the traffic signal in front of the main gate of the Secretariat, the lights towards East Fort are not glowing. Only the timer is working. At Pattom Junction, the lights towards Pottakuzhi are not glowing. Timers installed at the traffic signals along M.G. Road are also not working.

Poor synchronisation of traffic signals along the arterial road is also affecting the smooth flow of traffic through M.G. Road. Lack of zebra-crossings and stop-lines adds to the woes.

Motorists cannot see the face of the signal if a bus stops ahead when the signal turns red. This means that the motorists behind have to depend blindly on the movement of the bigger vehicle in front to know whether the signal had changed.

A top traffic official told The Hindu that the issue of non-functioning of traffic lights along M.G. Road and Pattom had been taken up with Keltron, which takes care of their maintenance and service. “Instructions had been given to rectify the traffic signals at the earliest,” he said.

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