COIMBATORE: The ever-busy RS Puram Junction in Coimbatore has become a symbol of bureaucratic impasse, with motorists bearing the brunt of growing ego clashes between the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) and the city police.
Once regulated by traffic signals, the intersection of DB Road and TV Samy Road now operates without them, creating chaos and congestion.
The traffic signals were removed as part of the Smart City project works initiated by the CCMC. In place of the signals, the civic body introduced cobblestone pavements, seating arrangements, and selfie points — a makeover that, according to officials, enhances the aesthetic appeal of the area. However, this facelift has come at a steep cost — the effective width of the road has drastically reduced, significantly disrupting vehicular movement.
While police officials have called for the reinstallation of traffic signals to ease the flow, the Road Safety Committee has pushed for the construction of a roundabout to better manage the junction. Yet, the CCMC has staunchly opposed both options, citing the financial investment and aesthetic considerations of the Smart City enhancements.
A traffic police told TNIE that instead of allowing them to reinstall the signals at the junction, the CCMC officials have been asking the traffic police wing to deploy police personnel to regulate traffic. "Police personnel cannot be manning the junction 24x7."
G Manuneethi, Divisional Engineer of State Highways Department (Road Safety) in Coimbatore Division, told TNIE, "A roundabout is the only solution to ease traffic at the junction and signals will not serve any purpose. A roundabout with 18 m diameter must be constructed to reduce the traffic congestion. However, with the Smart City elements, the junction has now shrunk and we cannot construct the same unless the Smart City elements in the four corners at the junction are removed by the CCMC. The issue has been long pending."
Sources within the CCMC revealed that the civic body fears that altering the redesigned junction will not only nullify the crores spent on beautification but also compromise its visual appeal. "The junction has become a nightmare during peak hours and weekends. What's the use of selfie spots when the roads are choking?" questioned R Karthik, a daily commuter from Saibaba Colony. Many motorists echoed his sentiment, calling the Smart City additions at the junction "utterly useless".
When inquired, CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran told TNIE, "If a roundabout was needed at the junction, then the officials must have constructed it at the first place itself. Now, we've spent several crores and have developed the junction. Maybe we will try and conduct a study at the junction and check the feasibility of what can be done to reduce the congestion."