Attingal: Yesterday was a day of absolute chaos in the roads here. The scenes in the highway reminded one of the popular computer game Roadrash. Nobody, including the police personnel, seems to be sure of the exact traffic arrangement. The one-way system in the National Highway was partially removed yesterday, with light motor vehicles being allowed to go both ways. Drivers of many heavy vehicles such as KSRTC buses and lorries coming from the direction of Thiruvananthapuram, unaware of the subtleties of the new arrangement, started following the cars and bikes that went just in front of them and entered the highway from East Nalumukku instead of turning to Palace Road. The police personnel stationed there for diverting heavy vehicles to Palace Road appeared helpless. But soon they managed to take control of the scenario. But by then a traffic jam had been created. Then the focus of the chaos shifted to private bus stand. As private buses take right turns to enter into the bus stand, other vehicles from both directions have no other option than stop and watch. Add this to pedestrians who want to cross the road, one must thank god for preventing any accident.
Despite the chaos people who have been opposing the traffic reforms seem to be happy with the new arrangement. Local stringers of Malayalam dailies blamed private bus drivers for yesterday’s traffic jam. Many merchants in the highway and in Chirayinkil Road, who claimed to have suffered a huge dip in sales during the last month, also appear happy with the new arrangement. Hopefully today will be a better day, as people start understanding the traffic arrangements better.
Despite the chaos people who have been opposing the traffic reforms seem to be happy with the new arrangement. Local stringers of Malayalam dailies blamed private bus drivers for yesterday’s traffic jam. Many merchants in the highway and in Chirayinkil Road, who claimed to have suffered a huge dip in sales during the last month, also appear happy with the new arrangement. Hopefully today will be a better day, as people start understanding the traffic arrangements better.
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