Water clogged underpasses and low-lying roads, non functioning signals and unmanned junctions added to the woes of motorists as district witnessed continuous showers on Wednesday. Traffic jam was evident on most of the roads, including arterial Avinashi Road, Tiruchi Road and Sathy Road.
Meanwhile, poor visibility due to fog put motorists in difficult situation in rural parts of the district like Anaikatti, Thadagam and Karamadai.
Regular commuters, employees, and students bore the brunt of traffic blocks as they could not keep up time during morning hours.
In city, the rainwater clogged Lanka Corner junction, underpasses of Avinashi flyover, Coimbatore north flyover and the railway bridge near Kikani School, slowing down vehicle movement.
Random movement of vehicles at junctions left unmanned by traffic police and defunct signals disrupted vehicle flow on Avinashi and Tiruchi Roads on Wednesday morning. The junctions at airport, Hope College, Peelamedu and Nava India witnessed traffic snarls. According to commuters, at least an hour was taken to cover the distance between airport junction and Lakshmi Mills junction.
While water clogging of rainwater slowed down traffic movement, Tiruchi Road, Mettupalayam and Sathy Road witnessed snarls due to defunct signals and lack of policemen to regulate vehicles. Laying of water pipeline coupled with defunct traffic signal choked vehicle movement at Edayarpalayam. Soil dug out spread on the road in rains making it slippery, according to commuters.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (traffic) Sujit Kumar said that traffic police personnel are posted at underpasses to divert vehicles through alternative routes at the event of water logging.
“Rain related traffic woes will be handled by 260 personnel and 40 members of the Home Guards. All personnel have been asked to swing into action whenever necessary. Three recovery vans are ready to remove vehicles that get stuck in water. The calls received at control room regarding traffic problems are immediately addressed,” said Mr. Kumar.
Trees fallen on road will be removed jointly by Fire and Rescue Services personnel and the police.
Coimbatore rural Superintendent of Police Pa. Moorthy said that 26 persons attached to State Disaster Response Force are kept standby to attend to emergencies in rural parts of Coimbatore.