Traffic at Asari Thoppu junction on Vaigai River North Bank needs to be made safer

A wide opening on the median of Vaigai River North Bank Road at Asari Thoppu junction is posing a threat to the safety of road users on this junction where vehicles are plying on multiple directions.

With the traffic congestions on the arterial roads in the city, Vaigai River North Bank have gained much patronage from vehicle users.

Right from motorbikes to cars and cargo vehicles like vans and trucks are using this road to reach Kuruvikkaran Salai Bridge from Vilangudi and Sellur. The median with concrete blocks separating the vehicles moving on opposite directions on this four-lane road makes traffic movement safer.

Similarly, to avoid the congested roads vehicle users from Anna Bus Stand also prefer to take the Vaigai River North Bank Road to reach Sellur, Arapalayam and Vilangudi.

However, vehicles from both roads, moving on opposite directions, meet at the Asari Thoppu junction. The junction does not have the necessary infrastructure to meet the needs of high volume of speeding vehicles that move in multiple directions.

Vehicles coming from Obulapadithurai side on the North Bank Road take left turn at the junction towards Anna Bus Stand, right turn towards Kuruvikkaran Salai and also go straight to go to Aavin junction.

Amidst this three-way movement of vehicles, those coming from Anna Bus stand cuts through the traffic to reach the extreme side of North Bank Road to proceed towards Obulapadithurai.

Besides, the awkward angle at which vehicles from both directions meet each other make the junction vulnerable for accidents.

An autorickshaw driver says that the long gap of opening of the median on North Bank Road makes it difficult to negotiate the junction. Besides, allowing the vehicles coming from Obulapadithurai to take a sharp right turn further towards the North Bank Road end to reach Kuruvikkaran Salai bridge makes it complex.

“Instead, vehicles coming from Obulapadithurai should not be allowed to take the right turn, but go straight to reach Kuruvikkaran Salai. This will make the road safer,” he said.

For, this the wide gap of the median opening should be narrowed down and proper barricade arrangement should be made to ensure that no vehicles from Obulapadithurai takes right turn.