Police enforce revised one-way rule on St. Mark's Road

Police enforce revised one-way rule on St. Mark's Road

The Hindu

Motorists confused on first day of rule; some say it will help avoid traffic jams

BANGALORE: Motorists were confused as the city police enforced the revised one-way traffic rule on St. Mark's Road on Tuesday. The traffic policemen had a tough time in directing drivers/riders to move in the changed direction. The confusion was palpable near the Anil Kumble Circle on Mahatma Gandhi Road where people usually turned right to go to BRV Junction leading to Shivaji Nagar and Cubbon Road and take a "u" turn to go on to Mahatma Gandhi Road again. Under the new rule, the traffic police have prohibited the right and "u" turns.

Instead, the police asked motorists to turn left near Arya Bhavan Sweets on Museum Road and reach Church Street Junction. From here, they have to turn right at K.C. Das Sweets and then turn right again to reach BRV Junction. A small signboard was put up on the median opposite the Coffee Day outlet on Mahatma Gandhi Road.

But many people who were unable to sight the signboard were caught at the Anil Kumble Circle. For reaching BRV Junction and Mahatma Gandhi Road, they had to go straight, take a "u" turn at the Mahatma Gandhi Circle and then go the respective routes. Though the traffic police were seen guiding drivers/riders, a few motorists managed to take the prohibited "u" turn at Anil Kumble Circle and to Mahatma Gandhi Road.

Drivers had to stop at Church Street-St. Mark's Road Junction, ask the traffic policemen for directions before turning right towards Anil Kumble Circle.

Motorists on their way to St. Mark's Road from Katurba Road through Vittal Mallya Road had to make a detour to reach their destination. With no road sign showing a free right turn opposite the State Bank of India Office on Museum Road, drivers faced difficulty in approaching Church Street. Traffic policemen helped people in dropping children at St. Joseph's High School near Ashirwadam Circle.

Smooth traffic

Ali, owner of a real estate firm on Museum Road, said, "The changes have helped him in avoiding traffic jam near St. Joseph's High School." The Chief Traffic Manager of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation said the new one-way rule has not affected bus schedules. Bus drivers were getting used to the new route, which, he said, only was an interchange of one-ways. He added that the number of buses running on this route was minimal.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-East) M. Abdullah Saleem said the modified system would help motorists from Hosur Road to reach Mahatma Gandhi Road easily, without getting stuck in traffic jams.

He said the movement of traffic under the new system was smooth and there were no problems.