Traffic troubles in narrow lanes

Vijayawada: Traffic in congested lanes remains unchanged for many years in the Old City. Mutha workers pulling trolleys giving way with much difficulty to pedestrians and two-wheelers is a common sight. There is no traffic rule that applies at Samarangam Chowk and its vicinity. Anybody can park anywhere.

This attitude creates many hurdles for traffic.Bhavanarayana Street, Park Road, Vinayaka temple, Brahmin Street are the four main lanes that connect Samarangam Chowk which is the epicentre of traffic troubles. While iron business was shifted to Bhavanipuram about two decades ago, wholesale provision shops were also shifted from here a couple of years ago.

However, about 50 per cent of shops needs to be shifted to Gollapudi as per plan to ease traffic troubles in the locality.
Samarangam Chowk is a famous centre for many years. However, roads and streets here are narrow allowing only trolleys, rickshaws, pull carts. If mini-transport vehicles enter the lanes, the traffic suffers a lot. “I have been working here for 15 years. The roads and lanes here are too small to allow only one-way.

There is no possibility to overtake trolleys and parcel service goods vehicles. We avoid any trouble to others as traffic police penalises for traffic hurdles,” says K Veera Reddy, a mutha worker.“Traffic problems arise because of parking. There is arrangement for car parking at main road bordering compound wall of Gandhiji High School. Despite that some intrudes into the narrow lanes and park their vehicles. The traders here are facing lot of troubles due to irregular parking,” says M Kiran, a trader.

“The fine for parking violation ranges between Rs 100 and Rs 1,000 depending on the nature of the violation. The roads are about 14 feet and 20 feet and there is no room for many vehicles. Only light vehicles can enter this place. When someone parks even a two-wheeler in the lane that was a biggest trouble for us,” reacts a beat constable.

By Noor Shaik