Public finds fault with cops right

While the traffic police feels that the new ‘No Right Turn’ rule in the city has vastly ensured the smooth flow of traffic, commuters have given a mixed response to the initiative

The newly imposed traffic restrictions on Mahatma Gandhi Road by the city police for free vehicular movement have evoked mixed response from commuters. The Vijayawada Police Commissionerate, which expanded its wings to cover the capital area, has put up `No Right Turn' signboards at a few points on MG Road to ensure free flow of traffic towards Benz Circle from the Old Bus Stand. The density of traffic between the Old Bus Stand and Benz Circle on MG Road is quite high and it accounts for a major share of vehicular traffic in the city. There are nine traffic signals on this stretch.

Taking a right turn has been restricted at the busiest junctions like Chennupati Petrol Pump, PWD Grounds and Hotel DV Manor. Consequently, motorists have to go around to reach their destination. While imposing the new restriction of `No Right Turn', the traffic police have moved road barricades at some places to create space for taking a turn by two-wheeler riders, besides allowing a free left turn.

The traffic restriction at some busy points on the MG Road has been welcomed by some as many are of the view that it will ensure free movement of vehicles during rush hours. The people opposing the traffic restriction have opined that it will cause severe inconvenience to motorists besides causing wastage of precious time and fuel. Suresh, a restaurateur, said, “The traffic restriction will prove to be an obstacle instead of ensuring free vehicular movement. Motorists who want to take a right turn at the place they want, need to go forward to a point where it is allowed.

It is not easy to take a U-turn towards the opposite direction when the traffic is heavy. The motorist or a two-wheeler rider may be hit by the fast approaching vehicles while he is taking a U-turn.” A student of a college located on MG Road said, “The new traffic restriction is convenient for us. It will prevent traffic jams at the college bus shelter as a traffic signal is next to it. We were finding it tough to cross the road during rush hours.”

K Shankar Rao, a shopkeeper, has felt that the new restriction may be part of the measures initiated by the city police for better traffic management in the capital city. “Even if the traffic restriction may be inconvenient to some, we need to adhere to it as responsible citizens,” he said. Balamurali Krishna, a businessman, said, “The new restriction is beneficial to road users. Till now, we were forced to wait at every traffic signal point to reach our destination.''

Despite mixed reactions to the `No Right Turn' restriction, the police are making efforts for effective management of traffic in the city. A police official is of the view that there has been considerable improvement in the traffic management in the city in the last three months due to the initiatives taken by the City Police Commissionerate to ensure road safety. “Imposition of new traffic restrictions is inevitable to promote road safety following a steep increase in number of vehicles in the capital city and due to heavy rush during peak hours,” he added.

By:Ch Sowmya Sruthi