GUNTUR: Chaotic traffic in Kothapet is troubling commuters. With the presence of hospitals along the main road and the old club road, this area has always been buzzing with vehicular traffic. People not only from Guntur district but also from the surrounding districts come here every day for super specialty medical services. Over 100 hospitals are present on the Kothapet road and Old Club Road. Nearly 80 per cent of these hospitals do not have parking facility. Though some buildings have cellar parking, the space has been given on rent to diagnostic centres and medical stores.
Cellars in some buildings have been constructed with engineering defects with steep slopes and people fear to park park vehicles there. Kothapet also has many commercial establishments. With no parking facilities, people are forced to park their vehicles on the streets. Due to street parking, the narrow roads get further congested making matters much worse. With the presence of street hawkers and hundreds of autos plying on this road, commuting here is a test of one’s willpower.
The two intersections at Bose Bomma centre and Metro theatre junction have become hot spots for frequent accidents. Vehicles from four directions converge at these junctions without control. The rash driving by autorickshaw drivers and bikers causes accidents at these junctions. Traffic DSP of Guntur city Kante Srinivasa Rao said a traffic signal is being arranged at Bose Bomma centre and it will be functional in a week’s time. “We have already identified a place for paid parking and are in talks with the municipal authorities,” he said. Mr Rao added that the police is going to depute a recovery van in the peak hours to tow away illegally parked vehicles.
