Concerns raised over poor maintenance of road furniture in Coimbatore city

Concerns have been raised over the poor maintenance of road furniture, including traffic signs, road markings and medians, on Coimbatore city roads.

Concerns have been raised over the poor maintenance of road furniture, including traffic signs, road markings and medians, on Coimbatore city roads, which are essential under road safety norms.

Faded paint on barricades and medians at several locations makes it difficult for commuters to identify medians at night, especially in the absence of reflective elements and amid glare from oncoming vehicles.

“Road markings are missing on several roads. Even on newly-laid roads in our locality, markings have not been provided. Many streets also do not have name boards too,” said R. Sridevi, a resident of Saibaba Colony.

District Road Safety Committee member K. Kathirmathiyon said the failure of road-owning authorities to maintain these infrastructures affected road safety. He said barricades should be painted using thermoplastic paint, as prescribed by Indian Roads Congress (IRC) norms. Reflectors should be installed at prescribed intervals on major roads, blinkers should be placed at the start of medians, and advance warning signboards should be provided before speed breakers and cross junctions. He also said road markings should be laid with standard width and thickness, renewed based on traffic volume, and provided immediately after roads are re-laid. Medians are frequently pasted with posters, leading to damage and reduced visibility, he added.

A senior official from the Coimbatore Corporation said that wherever the absence of road markings is reported, instructions would be issued to provide them. Orders have also been placed for a few street name boards. Posters pasted on medians are removed regularly, the official said.