Novel idea does away with prolonged waiting time for vehicles at Arapalayam signal

Madurai City Traffic Police have made an innovative traffic arrangement to reduce waiting time at the Arapalayam junction on Dindigul By-pass Road.

At any point of time, vehicle users had to wait for a minimum of two minutes for the green signal at this four-road junction. The timing for go-ahead from each side was in the range of 15 seconds to 35 seconds plus a 15-second window for pedestrians to cross.

Hence, vehicles had to stop at the signal for 120 seconds for their turn.

“During peak hours the waiting time could get doubled as before the serpentine queue of piled up vehicles could pass through the signal post, the red sign would glow abruptly stopping the flow of vehicular movement on one side,” Inspector of Police (Traffic), Thangamani, said.

With the help of officials of Department of Highways, the traffic police have almost removed the signal. (Signal is still operated for 30 seconds for pedestrians to cross the junction.)

Instead of allowing the vehicles to take right turns that warranted regulation of traffic with signal, the officials have made all vehicles to take only free left turns.

For, example vehicles coming out of Arapalayam Bus stand can take free left turn to go to Theni Road. But, to go to Dindigul side, the vehicles need to first take a left turn proceed for some 100 metres on the Bypass Road then take a U-turn towards Dindigul.

Similarly, vehicles coming from Theni towards Arapalayam bus stand should pass through the old signal junction for some 70 metres on the By-pass Road and then take a U-turn towards Arapalayam.

For this arrangement, the Highways officials have provided two new openings on either sides of the signal on the By-pass Road.

However, for buses coming from Theni Road towards Arapalayam bus stand, the officials have diverted them through the Vaigai River South Bank Road to avoid congestion.

The wider four-laned By-pass Road has facilitated the new arrangement.

Vehicles can keep on proceeding straight on one lane even as other vehicles take a free U-turn.

“Synchronisation of vehicles coming from different directions (straight and those making left turns) by moving in the same direction for some 100 metres allows them get segregated without much difficulty and thus, the U-turn is made possible,” a police officer said.

The traffic police have made suitable arrangements by placing temporary barricades across the carriage way to slow down movement of other vehicles as a precautionary measure.

This prevents vehicles coming on the opposite lane hitting the vehicles taking U-turns on both sides.

However, in the present width of opening, the buses find it difficult to negotiate the U-turn on the by-pass road to go towards Dindigul Road.

The entire exercise has been taken up on a trial basis. “Once the experiment succeeds, we will widen the openings in the median and also the small stretch of By-pass Road where the U-turn is taken to allow free passage for vehicles,” Assistant Engineer, Highways, J. Charles, said. Similarly, the traffic improvement works will be taken up at both openings to make them safer, he added.

S. Selvaganesh, who has his shop at the junction welcomed the new move. “Removal of the signal has ensured free movement of vehicles. It has given a big relief for me from the din created by continuous honking of horns by bus drivers while waiting at the signal,” he said.

Published - December 13, 2024 08:57 pm IST