Novel idea does away with prolonged waiting time for vehicles at Arapalayam signal

Madurai City Traffic Police innovatively reduce waiting time at Arapalayam junction, improving traffic flow and safety.

Madurai City Traffic Police have made an innovative traffic arrangement to reduce waiting time at the Arapalayam junction on Dindigul By-pass Road.

At any point of time, vehicle users had to wait for a minimum of two minutes for the green signal at this four-road junction. The timing for go-ahead from each side was in the range of 15 seconds to 35 seconds plus a 15-second window for pedestrians to cross.

Hence, vehicles had to stop at the signal for 120 seconds for their turn.

“During peak hours the waiting time could get doubled as before the serpentine queue of piled up vehicles could pass through the signal post, the red sign would glow abruptly stopping the flow of vehicular movement on one side,” Inspector of Police (Traffic), Thangamani, said.

With the help of officials of Department of Highways, the traffic police have almost removed the signal. (Signal is still operated for 30 seconds for pedestrians to cross the junction.)

Instead of allowing the vehicles to take right turns that warranted regulation of traffic with signal, the officials have made all vehicles to take only free left turns.

For, example vehicles coming out of Arapalayam Bus stand can take free left turn to go to Theni Road. But, to go to Dindigul side, the vehicles need to first take a left turn proceed for some 100 metres on the Bypass Road then take a U-turn towards Dindigul.