Airport Road: No right turn is wrong

AIRPORT ROAD
No right turn is wrong: citizens
The Times of India

Bangalore: Traffic police have closed right turns at three junctions—Kodihalli, Murugesh Palya and Manipal Hospital—on Airport Road since Friday to facilitate faster movement of vehicles heading towards airport.

It will be an acid test for the police on Monday when normal traffic is back on the road after a long weekend. “We did not have much problems on Friday, Saturday and Sunday because of the holidays,” a police officer said.

However, people living in areas around Airport Road called The Times of India to lodge their protest against the closure of right turns.
One caller said: “We don’t understand the rationale behind closing down the right turn near Manipal Hospital and allowing U-turn 20 meters away from that junction.’’ Another caller said: “There is no right turn till 100 Ft Road-Koramangala Intermediate Ring Road junction if you are coming from the airport side. This leads to piling up of traffic at the busy junction which is already congested because of the flyover construction work. Let the police introduce traffic initiatives only after the completion of the flyover construction work.”

Meanwhile, some residents of Kodihalli and Murugesh Palya met the traffic police to complain about the inconvenience due to the new rules. “We have told them (residents) to bear with us for a week and see the progress. If the new rule does not help them commute faster on the road, we will take a relook. They have agreed to cooperate with the police,’’ DCP traffic (East), M.A. Saleem, said.

Saleem said: “Closing of right turn near Manipal Hospital will not cause any inconvenience to patients. We can’t wait for the completion of the flyover work, as it is going to take longer.”