Chaos marks day 1 of new one-way rule on St Mark’s Road

Chaos marks day 1 of new one-way rule on St Mark’s Road
Deccan herald

Chaos and confusion prevailed on St Mark’s Road and M G Road on Tuesday following the implementation of new one-way system on St Mark’s Road and adjoining roads.

A number of commuters who were unaware of the new system introduced by the Bangalore Traffic Police were caught by surprise when they found new road signs showing ‘No Entry’.

However, several traffic policemen who had been posted at the road junctions were seen directing the commuters on the new one-way rule.

While a section of the motorists welcomed the new traffic system, others were unhappy and said they had to take a long and circuitous route to reach their destination.

Businessman J Mat-thew, who regularly commutes on St Mark’s Road said: “The new system is round about. I would have to drive at least a kilometre now to reach my destination which is hardly 100 mts from Residency Road.” Another commuter K Suresh observed: “To reach Cash Pharmacy on St Mark’s Road from M G Road, I would have to travel nearly two kilometres getting on to Lavelle Road and then later on to Residency Road.”

Suma Bhaskar N, an advocate said: “Though people would have to travel a little longer distance, there is smooth traffic flow. Earlier there were traffic blockages.”

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic (East) M A Saleem said that the new traffic system has been implemented to make traffic corridors for M G Road and ease the traffic burden of traffic coming from Hosur Road.

The traffic police had created vehicular traffic islands to ease the congestion, he added.

The entire stretch of St Mark’s Road is now one-way. While there is no entry for vehicles from M G Road to St Mark’s Road which was earlier two-way, one-way has been implemented from India Garage Junction towards Anil Kumble Circle.

There will be one-way from the India Garage junction to Residency Road Cash Pharmacy, Saleem said.

In addition, there will be one-way from St Joseph’s Evening College towards India Garage, he said. The one-way has been reversed, he added.

There will be initial glitches when any new system is implemented he said and added that the main purpose of the system is to ease the traffic congestion.