Closing traffic signal at Tycoon Hotel Junction in Visakhapatnam evokes mixed reactions

Criticism of decision to close Tycoon Hotel Junction near Dutt Island as part of traffic management is growing. Commuters allege they must travel further, opposition parties allege it was done to favour YSR Congress Party leader. U-turn created near Dutt Island, but many two-wheelers use internal roads to avoid distance. BJP, TDP, JSP oppose decision, allege it was to favour YSRCP MP. Traffic police say decision has improved flow, commuters no longer wait 40 secs at junction.

The decision to close Tycoon Hotel Junction neat Dutt Island as part of traffic management is coming under heavy criticism from commuters as well as opposition parties in the city.

While commuters allege that they are forced to travel additional distance to reach VIP Road, members of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and JSP allege that the decision was taken to favour a YSR Congress Party leader, who has undertaken a construction project nearby.

Several commuters coming from Siripuram to VIP Road opined that they are forced to travel to Sampath Vinayaka Temple route, take a U-turn and then come back again to Tycoon Hotel Junction and take a left to go to VIP Road. The reaction is quite similar from people using VIP Road to go towards Sampath Vinayaka Temple or RTC Complex. Though a U-turn was created near Dutt Island Junction, just 40 metres from Tycoon Hotel Junction, it is being felt that the police department has unnecessarily complicated what should have been a simple thing. To avoid the distance, many two-wheelers from Siripuram are seen using internal roads between Balaji Nagar to reach VIP Road.

M. Aravind, a resident of Beach Road, said, “I have been using the route since 2017. Tycoon Hotel Junction was not a major traffic congestion point. One need not wait for long at the traffic signal at all. There was also a free left for vehicles going towards Sampath Vinayaka temple,” he said.

Meanwhile, road users travelling from Sampath Vinayaka Temple Road, RTC Complex, Asilmetta Junction towards Siripuram, China Waltair opined that traffic flow has improved at the junction.

Sashikanth, a resident of China Waltair said that flow of traffic between Asilmetta towards Siripuram was high during weekends. Vehicles would line up for a distance of over 300 metres at the traffic signal, he opined.

Some days ago, BJP leaders staged a protest at the junction. Visakhapatnam Parliamentary Constituency president Ravindra Medapati said that the decision of the police has created a lot of trouble for commuters. Along with former MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, Mr. Ravindra alleged that the decision was taken to favour a YSRCP MP who was taking up a construction project nearby.