Traffic congestion on IG Road remains unresolved

Traffic congestion on IG Road, Chikkamagaluru, is mentioned in most meetings, yet remains unresolved.

The movement of heavy and tourist vehicles and pushcarts as well as haphazard parking on the stretch is causing problems to especially children and elderly commuters.

For pedestrians on IG Road, located in the heart of the town, walking has become a Herculean task. Most of the hotels, lodging and commercial complexes are located here. The stretch provides connectivity to KSRTC bus stand.

“Pedestrians are greatly inconvenienced as vehicles are parked on both sides of the road,” informed a trader Imthiyaz.

Dividers

“The road dividers are laid improperly on the stretch. Excess speeding by two-wheeler riders and flouting of traffic rules by college students has doubled the accidents on the stretch,” Innerwheel president Dr Geetha Venkatesh said.

She pointed out that lodges on the stretch lack proper parking space. Tourists are forced to park their vehicles haphazardly. A multi-level parking complex should be constructed at the end of the road, to help vehicle owners park their vehicles, she said.

“Parking on both sides of road should be banned. IG road should have a zebra-crossing and vehicle speed restricted to a minimum. CCTV cameras should be installed to help traffic cops book cases against owners of vehicles for rash driving,” she added.

Cops' woes

Vehicle density on the stretch is the biggest challenge for the traffic police personnel.

“The vehicle density on IG Road is high on weekends. Managing the traffic is a big headache,” a traffic cop grumbled.