'Ease traffic congestion at Brahmagiri Junction'

The traffic congestion in Udupi town is on rise with each passing day. The traffic congestion at Brahmagiri Junction, where five roads converge, has been causing a lot of inconvenience to the motorists.

The five roads--Brahmagiri-Nayarkere road, St Cecily’s School road, Ajjarakadu road connecting Ambalpady bypass of NH 66, road connecting Ambalpady Bypass to Udupi and Udupi Taluk Panchayat Road converge at Brahmagiri Circle. The increase in traffic congestion has adversely affected children and senior citizens, who find it difficult to cross the roads at the Junction.

People visiting taluk panchayat compulsorily travel on Udupi TP Road. The road also leads to Inspection Bunglow and SP office.

On Brahmagiri-Nayarkare road, there is a masjid, Congress Bhavan and houses of many officials. When the ministers and leaders visit Congress Bhavana, the density of vehicles too increase on the stretch.

Further, public programmes at masjid and Lions Bhavan near Brahmagiri Junction too results in traffic congestion, said social worker Iqbal Manna.

Schoolchildren from St Cecily’s School also board the bus at Brahmagiri Junction. There is no proper bus shelter for commuter, travelling to Udupi, to stand.

As a result commuters, waiting to board the buses, are forced to stand on the road risking their lives. The private buses too give stops according their whims and fancies on the road. The CMC should construct a bus shelter at the junction, residents said.

The Brahmagiri Junction also lacks proper parking facility. As a result, the motorists park their vehicles beside the road, thus increasing the traffic congestion.

People have demanded the authorities concerned to deploy traffic police at Brahmagiri Junction to manage the traffic. The traffic signals and CCTV cameras should be installed. Speed breakers should also be laid to check the vehicles travelling at high speed.