One way' to chaos

The solution to the growing controversy over the closure of Maligawa Road in Kandy is causing more confusion and traffic congestion in the city :

by Isuri Kaviratne

While the general public has been clamouring for the opening of a section of the road leading to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the chief prelates of both Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters have come out strongly against the idea.

The road, known as the Maligawa Road was closed following the 1998 attack on the sacred place of Buddhist worship by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

With two groups promoting opposite ideas, on March 1, Kandy Police in response, introduced one-way traffic with a special vehicle diversion arrangement for the afternoons, Kandy Traffic Police OIC, IP Sampath Dassanayake, said.

Rehearsals of the one-way traffic system was carried out this week along with a special road diversion plan from 3.30 - 7.30 p.m. to prevent road congestion, even though it has created heavy traffic within the city area, he said.

The new traffic scheme directs vehicles heading towards Kandy Town from Getambe along the Old Peradeniya Road, and the vehicles heading out of Kandy Town along the William Gopallawa Road.

Several cross roads were blocked by the one-way system, near the Queen's Hotel and close to the Kandy City Centre Park.

The afternoon vehicle diversion has further reduced the otherwise heavy traffic in Peradeniya and Getambe though it has set a slow pace for the vehicles in the town. "However, the traffic in the Lake Side is non-existent," he said.

The new traffic system was met with mixed public reactions.

A demonstration in support of opening Maligawa Road

Former Provincial Councillor Raja Uswetakeiyawa said it is wrong to claim that the new traffic system has solved the problem of road congestion, adding that opening of the Maligawa Road was no longer a necessity. "It was requested to minimise the environmental pollution as well."

Shifting traffic

"The new traffic system is not successful. The traffic jam has simply been moved into the Kandy city area. And the Kandy Lake Drive too remains blocked, especially during peak hours," he said, adding that another solution could be to shift bus stops out of Kandy city area.

"The request to open the Maligawa Road has been pending for a long time now and it has nothing to do with Buddhism or the temple itself," he added.

S.D. Wijekoon, a lawyer from the area, said that the temporary arrangement is better and even though Kandy Police has announced that it is to be a short-term solution, it may be a practical long-term solution as well.

He said, the opening of Maligawa Road would not solve the traffic problem, created due to large number of vehicles in the city while the roads remain narrow. "Best way to manage Kandy traffic would be to build a flyover," he said.

A Kandy resident, Milinda Kasturiarachchi said, alternate roads should be suggested for peak hours, as the current traffic system is not acceptable as a long-term solution. "At least experienced police officers should be positioned in the Kandy city during the peak hours to manage the traffic flow as smoothly as possible.

D. Weeratunga, another resident of Gurudeniya said that he would expect a 65% reduction in the traffic due to the new plan. "People can expect better results and they will get used to it."

Both Mahanayakas of Asgiriya and Malwatte Maha Viharayas have opposed the opening of the Maligawa Road, alleging that it is an insult to the Maligawa. The prelates have come out strongly against the proponents of the road opening for 'making false claims of air pollution' without any substance.