Traffic relief in sight for Gajuwaka: Police ask pharma units to limit bus routes

In a significant development, the Visakhapatnam city police have placed a proposal before the managements of various pharma units based in Anakapalli district, urging them to restrict the movement of their buses along key stretches under the Gajuwaka police station limits. This initiative is aimed at easing the persistent traffic congestion in the area.

As part of the proposal, the police have also suggested alternative routes for the buses, along with suitable pick-up and drop-off points for employees. The pharma companies have been given a week’s time to consider these changes.

The traffic police have observed that during peak hours, commuters spend over an hour, and sometimes even more, travelling from Sheela Nagar Junction to Sri Nagar Junction via Old Gajuwaka, leading to major inconvenience. One of the primary reasons identified by the authorities is the large number of pharma buses that pass through this corridor.

As per traffic police authorities, on an average, nearly 120 to 150 buses daily belonging to different pharma companies operate from Atchutapuram and Parawada along the NH-16 to pick up staff from various designated points. The worst traffic congestion is witnessed along the two- km stretch between Old Gajuwaka Junction and Sri Nagar Junction, mainly due to the absence of a proper service road.

Inspector of Traffic, Gajuwaka Circle, Sheikh Hussain, said that nearly 80% of pharma buses coming from Parawada and Atchutapuram enter via Kurmannapalem, reach Sri Nagar Junction, and then take a U-turn at Old Gajuwaka Junction. He noted that buses are taking up a two-km trip solely for this U-turn to pick employees. Travel along this two-km stretch is significantly increasing the overall traffic load and causing unnecessary congestion.

Keeping this in view, the Commissioner of Police, Shankabratha Bagchi, along with K. Praveen Kumar ADCP (Traffic) have suggested limiting bus operations up to Sri Nagar Junction, with employees boarding or alighting at that point.

Additionally buses operating to and from the city have been asked to divert at the Autonagar Junction Arch, and travel through Autonagar, and then reach Sri Nagar Junction. They have been advised to follow the same diversion on their return journey, completely avoiding the Sri Nagar to Old Gajuwaka stretch.

The police expect if implemented, it could significantly reduce congestion along one of Visakhapatnam’s busiest routes.