Some traffic junctions in the city are so risky that it is often difficult for pedestrians to cross them. Road intersections and movement of vehicles from every direction puzzles the pedestrians, said many residents of the city, even as they rued the fact that there is no Zebra Crossing on the roads.
Among these traffic intersections, the ones that are most difficult to cross are Garikhana, Lad Rilbong Point, Governor’s House (the junction towards AIR), Barik and Police Bazaar, which has earned the reputation of being a ‘maze junction’.
A resident of Rilbong said that the intersection at Lad Rilbong Point is enigmatic.
“There is a temporary lane now which is created by placing plastic barricades for those vehicles that are destined for the Sohra road. Besides this there is embarkation/disembarkation point in this junction on every side and the vehicles, big or small including two wheelers, which flow in from all direction makes road crossing a gigantic task,” he said.
He is echoed by a resident from neighboring Dudgeon Lane who said that the sharp snarls with some vehicle proceeding straight whereas others taking the curves are a matter of awareness, too.
Pedestrians also complained of similar troubles at the intersection near the Governor’s House (the junction towards AIR). Many pedestrians said that they just can’t understand the nature of this junction. “There are numerous one ways and no entries in the city. And in this junction, the cars that are flowing in from the road near AG Office, Bivar Road are either destined for Boyce Road, Bishop Cotton Road and Lower Lachaumiere. And from each of these roads cars are also flowing in since they are all two ways,” she said. Echoing her, another pedestrian said that the two way road that leads to Lower Lachaumiere from this intersection is quite dangerous including the sloping nature of this intersection.
Barik Point, despite being the broadest intersection in the city, is no better. “This is perhaps the broadest intersection in the city. But my concern in this intersection is the changing traffic movement everyday in the evening from 8 pm onwards when the road from Civil Junction opens from both sides. We have already seen few dreadful accidents in this intersection in the recent past,” said the concerned resident of Survey Estate.
The ‘maze’ of the city – Police Bazaar intersection – is just unavoidable, according to an overwhelming response received from pedestrians.
“Increase in the number of vehicle and subsequent traffic congestion has left no room for pedestrians on the road. Secondly, this is the most vital area of the city being a commercial hub,” said a business executive who feels that there should be proper Zebra Crossing signs on this junction.
(By Rajib Roy)