Mangalore: The Mangalore city corporation along with the City traffic police installed traffic signals in order to streamline the traffic flow in the city. They work in fits and starts, and are often off, when needed most. However, when on, they seem to be uncoordinated with other signals on the road leading to traffic build ups at the various signals. Motorists, especially two wheelers, compete with each other to get ahead of the pack, so that they can be off first at the change of signal to green, a frustrated pedestrian complained to Newskarntaka. sometimes four wheelers and even heavy vehicles climb onto the foot path meant for pedestrians and snake their way forward.
The pedestrian, who wished to remain anonymous, was referring specifically to the situation at the prominent Balmatta Circle that has new signals installed to control its four way traffic flow. The signal may be a boon for traffic management and flow, but has become a menace for pedestrians, because motorists don’t follow traffic rules, the signal time is not regulated properly and there is no safety barrier for the footpath.
“During peak hours, when the signal on the Bendore Jyoti road turns red, and stays that way for four minutes, vehicles pile up and climb onto the narrow footpath, making it dangerous for pedestrians to walk on it”, said a motorist who frequents the road.
Critically, just a block away from the signal, is the Nazereth Convent in a narrow lane that emerges on to the very foorpath which is populated by vehicles rather than pedestrians. The Nazereth Convent runs a kindergarten and a primary school. A number of parents with their children in tow, use the footpath to enter and exit the school premises and their lives are often at risk due to the violation and impatience of motorists, and the unregulated signals.
A parent of a child who is a student of Nazereth Convent school, told Newskarnataka, “Walking is so dangerous on this footpath, bikes overtake you so that they can be first off at the change of the signal, while children have to helplessly wait to get into the school or walk through the vehicles to reach or exit the school”. Its very dangerous she added. She hoped, as did others walking on the footpath, that the administration, the motorists and the police would understand their plight and find a solution – perhaps by erecting barriers between the footpath and the road, and regulating the timing of the signals in a better manner.
