Marathon messes up traffic in city

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 9. Vehicular traffic in the city was disrupted for hours today morning as the diversions made by the police for the Travancore Marathon went haywire. Policemen struggled to restore traffic as roads became clogged.

Long queues of vehicles were witnessed at many places along the marathon route which stretched from the University Stadium through Statue, East Fort, Thiruvallam, Bypass road, Poonthura, Beemapally, Shankhumukhom, Veli, All Saints College, Chackai, Pettah and General Hospital junction.

Confusion prevailed during the peak hours with transport buses, autorickshaws and private vehicles jostling in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Irate drivers were seen pleading and arguing with policemen.

At many places, police diverted traffic through side roads but this only led to further confusion. With the main thoroughfare through Palayam completely choked, the one-way regulation was thrown to the winds as dozens of vehicles made their way from the Martyr's Column to the Bakery Junction. But this flow complicated matters as the Vanross junction and the Subramania Swamy Kovil road to the Sreekumar theatre soon became clogged. Policemen could only watch helplessly as the situation went out of control.

A car carrying a critically ill case to the Medical College hospital was caught up in the traffic snarl at Palayam. The car which approached the junction with lights flashing and horn blaring, was extricated from the block by helpful motorists and policemen. After an agonising wait, it was finally sent on its way. All the side lanes connecting the main road with the Oottukuzhy-Sreekumar theatre road were choked.

It was only after the marathon concluded at the university stadium that the traffic snarls eased.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Ravi trains his gun on Karunakaran
Next     : Raj Bhavan march by Lok Janshakti