Commuters irked by frequent traffic snarls outside Tiruchi general hospital

An increase in vehicles plying on EVR Road has made it difficult for commuters trying to reach the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH) in Puthur, besides causing frequent traffic jams throughout the day.

The traffic seems to peak during the afternoon rush hour when offices and educational institutions in the vicinity close for the day.

“Around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, we spent 20 minutes waiting for the traffic to clear up before we could exit the hospital premises. With such a critical facility on the main road, it would be better for the authorities to create a priority zone for the GH,” said a resident.

When contacted, a senior hospital official told The Hindu that the issue had been highlighted to the traffic authorities recently. “The absence of signals that could regulate the movement of vehicles outside MGMGH is a disadvantage. However, we have requested the authorities to monitor the traffic more strictly and ensure smooth flow of vehicles. This will help ambulances and our emergency response teams to work more efficiently,” the official said.

P. Ayyarappan, president, Road Users Welfare Association, suggested that speed breakers be put up on the roads outside hospitals and other public facilities in order to prevent chaotic driving in inner city roads.

“The pavements bordering the GH are already being used by charity organisations donating food to the public, as well as small vendors and pushcarts. Since there are no signals, traffic police have to be strict about monitoring drivers in this area,” he said.