Coimbatore: Chaos greeted motorists using Thadagam Road and the Edayarpalayam to Mettupalayam Road on Friday after the highways department closed the stretch of Mettupalayam Road from GN Mills to Ganga Hospital.
Vehicles lined up from KNG Pudur Junction till NSR Road junction after one side of Thadagam Road was blocked around 10.30am. “We were stuck on the stretch for almost 15 minutes. More than the traffic, it was the policemen standing at the junctions that caused the traffic jam,” said a frustrated businessman, driving to Vadavalli from Thudiyalur.
Three policemen who regulated traffic at Edayarpalayam junction allowed vehicles to pile up for more than 1km on all three sides.
On Day 1, vehicles coming from Mettupalayam towards Coimbatore also used Thadagam Road to reach the city, instead of using the suggested Vellakinar, Udayampalayam and Maniakaranpalayam route. “That route is congested because it handles all vehicles going and coming to the Kongunadu College and Hospital and leads to Gandhipuram. The Thadagam Road is more sensible for those heading to R S Puram, Selvapuram, Thondamuthur and Vadavalli,” said a steel trader heading towards R S Puram.
Motorists coming from Mettupalayam to Coimbatore also struggled with traffic blocked from GN Mills. “Though the flyover work starts only at Kavundampalayam, motorists heading to their houses and companies on the blocked stretch were not allowed within the barricades,” said a commuter.
Vehicles piled up before the GN Mills, from where the barricades were placed.
However, cops said the traffic arrangement was successful. “We did not see a big congestion as expected on Thadagam Road and the side roads like NSR Road, Edayarpalayam Road and the KNG Pudur to Mettupalayam Road,” said a police officer.