Mangalore, September 12: Serious threat has been created for pedestrians and light vehicle drivers due to uncontrolled traffic system at the service roads close to the flyovers at Kottara in City. The Kottara and Kuntikan flyover areas are messy.
No sooner the vehicles started using the Kottara flyover, traffic problems have gone up at the service road. Violating of traffic rules is quite transparent at the four roads junction in Kottara Chowki.
Heavy vehicles move according to the drivers’ wish, ignoring all road safety rules. As a result, minor accidents have become almost common in Kottara and Kuntikana, the local residents utter.
A responsible resident of Kottara Chowki, said that from Kuntikan to Kottara Chowki, all vehicles at the service road below the flyover move freely, violating all traffic rules. As there is no gap in the divider, there is no space for the vehicles to cross the road. Hence, the drivers are compelled to move on the wrong side. The absence of signal or traffic police has become a boon for the traffic rule violators and it is free to all.
Further, the service road is unfit for safe riding. The road work has been poorly done and unsafe. During rainy season, as water flows on the road; the riders and pedestrians are greeted by splashes when other vehicles pass by. Meanwhile, as there are many vehicle showrooms at the Highway in Kottara Chowki, the vehicle users park their vehicles on the road, awaiting more problems. Additional to this, heavy vehicles are parked by the road side where the workshops carry out repair work, making it difficult for pedestrians to walk on the road. Another problem is lack of bus shelter in the area. The service buses as well as city buses board and drop passengers on the road. Sometimes, buses stop in the middle of the road, owing to competition between themselves, risking the traveller’s life. Numerous accidents have taken place.
Traffic ACP Uday Nayak of Mangalore addressing the media said that, the issue was raised at a road safety meeting chaired by the deputy commissioner two months ago. A proposal has also been submitted by the Traffic department to National Highway Authority and the authority has given their consent to construct a service road. The Highway authority has assured to construct even a bus shelter in the area. The ACP further said that the absence of traffic police is due to acute shortage of staff.
Uncleared Garbage: At the right side of Kottara Chowki junction, garbage dumped stinks badly and garbage bins are unseen in the area. The local dwellers and shopkeepers said that the garbage collecting truck of Mangalore City Corporation does not clear it and day by day the garbage is accumulating. No action has taken from the concerned authorities and scenario here is quite serious awaiting great dangers to the public.
