Traffic in Vizag Crawls With 22 Lakh Population Having 13.8 Lakh Vehicles
Visakhapatnam: Traffic movement in Visakhapatnam has slowed over the last decade, testing the patience of road users, particularly motorists. The city has a population of 22 lakh but has 13.8 lakh vehicles of all modes moving in the city. Tourists and their vehicles add to the traffic, particularly on holidays and holiday seasons. Visits of VIPs including ministers add to the traffic chaos.
Recent public meetings involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu almost brought the city to a standstill.
“Traffic signals on the National Highway 16 between Kommadi and NAD junction are the main choking points,” said Professor D. Mukunda Rao, head of the civil engineering department of a private university, and member of the State Road Safety Council.
Talking to this correspondent, Prof. Mukunda Rao said if the four signals from Maddilapalem to Fourth Town Police Town junction are synchronised, vehicles could pass through relatively easier.
The problem is because two vendors – L&T and CMC – manage two signal points each. They have different configurations, which prevent synchronisation. However, synchronisation is possible at Kommadi, Carshed and Cricket Stadium junctions as L&T manages them.
The professor pointed out that traffic moves at a speed of 55 kmph from Thatichetlapalem to NAD junction, as there is no signal point on this long stretch of road. But the speed between Maddilapalem and Venkojipalem junction is the slowest, at 20 km per hour during peak time.
Regarding traffic on the city’s internal roads, Mukunda Rao explained that authorities have put speed breakers at multiple points, forcing vehicles to slow down. Further, traffic slows along Dabagardens, Dwarakanagar and Jagadamba junction due to unauthorised vendors and illegal parking.
ADCP Traffic Praveen Kumar said though the bypass road between Anandapuram and Pendurthi has been made operational, authorities are yet to de-notify the NH16 road passing through the heart of the city.
“As a result, we are unable to stop heavy vehicles from entering the city. Around 1,500 heavy vehicles pass through the city every day,” he underlined.
Mentioning his reasons for slow traffic, Road Transport Authority deputy commissioner G. Adinarayana said violation of basic traffic rules, which include entering one-way roads, overloading and driving without license, and use of LED headlights during nights, are slowing down the traffic.
He said Metro and flyovers are the only solution to ease the traffic congestion in Visakhapatnam.
Graphix
National Highway runs through Visakhapatnam city for 63.5 km between Tagarapuvalasa in north and Steel Plant in south.
BRTS road 43.6 km
GVMC roads 1,007 km
Traffic signals 98
Total no. of vehicles 13.8 lakh
