Slow vehicles may be banned on flyovers

Autos, trucks, trailers and other goods vehicles tend to move slow

The traffic police plan to ban slow moving vehicles on flyovers during peak hours to ease traffic.

Flyovers in the city are choked with vehicles during the peak hours resulting in traffic jams and congestion.

 A senior police officer said, “The idea is in its nascent stage and it is still being discussed. For now, we will ask a private consultant to conduct a study on the average speed of vehicles on flyovers. Usually, flyovers are meant for free flow of traffic but due to heavy vehicular movement, there are traffic jams on flyovers too. We will try to find out the average speed of vehicles plying on flyovers.”

“Autorickshaws, trucks, trailers and other goods vehicles tend to move slowly on flyovers. It has also been observed that they move on the righthand side of the road, blocking other vehicles behind. As a result, vehicles tend to overtake from left, which is risky. This leads to piling up of vehicles near the upper and lower ends of the ramps of the flyovers, causing a spiralling effect on vehicles all along the stretch for about two to three kilometres,” added the officer.

Breakdowns are also common with goods vehicles on flyovers, leading to traffic jams, the officer said. This also causes traffic jams, he added.

Anticipating stiff opposition to the proposal from goods transporters’ associations, he said: “It is too early to say anything on their opposition. We will wait till the rule is framed and then talk to the association. We will involve them in the process and their feedback is also welcome.”

The officer said the study on traffic flow and vehicle speed on flyovers will be carried out at major flyover locations in the city.