Circles sans traffic signals, a headache here

Congested movement, increased number of vehicles bother people, police in Madikeri

Madikeri witnesses traffic congestion very often during weekends.Buses and tourist cabs choke the roads, leaving the commuters in distress and irking the local residents greatly.

There are many hotels in the vicinity of the Field Marshal Cariappa Circle. The tourists park their vehicles by the road while entering these hotels. This has been affecting the movement of KSRTC bus, lorries and other vehicles on the road.

Vehicles are parked in front of the Madikeri Urban Development Authority office during weekends. Parking of vehicles haphazardly in front of the KSRTC Madikeri unit, near the district hospital, has also been affecting the movement of ambulances and other vehicles. 

Traffic chaos at General K S Thimmaiah Circle is common during all the days in a week. The Circle is a meeting point of roads leading to Virajpet, Mangaluru, Sampaje, Irpu falls, Chelava falls, Bhagamandala-Talacauvery and Padi Igguthappa Temple. As a result, the density of vehicles on the Circle is high. The lack of a signal light is also aggravating the problem of movement of traffic at the K S Thimmaiah Circle.

Common problem
Those who pass through the Cauvery Circle to reach the deputy commissioner’s office, Raja Seat, Omkareshwara Temple, Rajara Gadduge are also hit by the traffic snarls due to similar lack of signal lights. Traffic police and home guards run helter-skelter, unable to control people and the vehicles on prominent circles. 

The residents feel that the authorities should install traffic signal lights on at least circles that are laid scientifically. They also opined that the traffic congestion will be reduced if the private bus shelter is shifted. 

Venkappa, a shopkeeper said, “The traffic signals should be installed on any stretch of road where it is necessary. The City Municipal Council should initiate measures to improve traffic in the town.”