You’ve Seen Roads during Peak Hours in City? This is How the Roads Look during Lockdown-WOW!
Mangaluru : Have you noticed the traffic jam during the peak hours of 8 am-9 am or 4 pm-6 pm, and during school/college hours near St Agnes Institution-Bendore, St Theresa’s School-Bendore, Capitanio School- Nagori, Sharada Vidyalaya-Kodialbail, Gerosa School- Jeppu, Milagres College-Hampankatta, and many other institutions during the start and end of their school/college hours- it is very chaotic and stressful to motorists and commuters. With thousands of vehicles transporting over lakhs of children to and from school every morning and evening, areas around schools has become a traffic nightmare. Not just for motorists and pedestrians, but most importantly, for school-going children. Several schools in the city are in clusters and with crowds at the gates it often hampers the flow of regular traffic, especially on busy roads.
Near St Theresa School-Bendore
Near St Agnes Institutions-Bendore
Nanthoor Junction
The result: unmanned traffic, accidents, time wasted, traffic jams and huge risks to schoolchildren. The solution is to Ease traffic congestion around schools during opening and closing hours. Why is this important: It’s a growing problem that needs to be addressed, given that the number of vehicles is on a steady increase. Also, accidents involving school children are on the rise. Who are the culprits: Parents in four and two wheelers, auto rickshaw drivers, maxi cabs, mini school buses, and private buses.
Clock Tower/Town Hall Area
Milagres Church/Falnir Road
Balmatta Road
State Bank Circle
Unprecedented in scale, the city’s mounting traffic congestion has pushed every management strategy to the edge. The extreme congestion sparked off by the inflow and outflow of school vehicles unleashes virtual gridlocks on many City roads. Scurrying for clues to resolve this rising problem, many parents and citizens are asking school management to find parking for their vehicles within the campus. The city has hundreds of schools with thousands of students each, many of them situated in narrow by-lanes. The civic authority has an internal department to study traffic density and road networks and ensure that all proposed school buildings have ample parking inside their premises. Sources reveal that in spite of several schools have also written to traffic police but their complaints have not evoked an adequate response. Traffic cops, on their part, said they were making efforts. The problem is that several schools have their entrance right on arterial roads. During peak hours, multiple vehicles ferrying students cause snarls as they all assemble at one spot.
Hampankatta Circle
Jyothi/Dr Ambedkar Circle
Near KSRTC Bus Stand-Bejai
Balmatta-Bendore-Well Road
But looking at the City streets these days during lockdown, wouldn’t you pray that that the roads stay clear with no traffic snarls/jams throughout the year, like they are TODAY. Team Mangalorean went around the the prominent locations in the City, where there is always traffic jams during rush hours- and today was completely different- and ever since the lockdown came into effect. No traffic congestion, no movement of traffic-no honking, no pollution- just peaceful, quite and environmentally friendly. But not for long, because in few days we will be haunted by the same old traffic situation, post 14 April- if the lockdown is lifted.
Lady Hill Junction
K S Rao Road
Mahatma Gandhi (M G ) Road
Lalbagh Road near MCC Building
Various efforts made to solve traffic congestion have yielded little results.Traffic experts also say lack of lane discipline among motorists is another stumbling block to quick decongestion. The unbridled rise in vehicular numbers only adds to the mounting challenges. During morning and evening hours the traffic is hit. During evening hours, the presence of more vehicles completely block the movement of vehicles. Absence of traffic police personnel is also worsening the situation and reckless driving of private bus drivers cause uneasiness for commuters. So at least for now, enjoy a cool ride or drive, when our City roads are free of congestion/chaos and what not- at least until 14 April.