New uniflow traffic plan for Colombo

By Ranil WIJAYAPALA

The one-way traffic plan along the Galle Road and Duplication Road which has been extended upto Dickmans Road, Bambalapitiya is now being familiarised with the motorists as the traffic congestion along the Galle Road has been further eased with the implementation of the new traffic plan.

According to motorists travelling to and from Colombo along the Galle Road though the system was a little confusing for them at the initial stages they are adjusting themselves to the system at present.

Adjustments

Asoka Wijetilleke, Senior DIG Western Province Field Force and Traffic Administration said that the traffic Police are now making necessary adjustments along the Galle Road and Duplication Road with the relevant agencies to further facilitate the uni-flow of traffic along the Galle Road and Duplication Road between Bambalapitiya and Kollupitiya.

‘We had initial discussions with the Ceylon Electricity Board to shift the street lights on the centre mediums of the Galle Road to facilitate the Colombo Municipal Council and other relevant agencies to develop the Road’, he added.

‘We were observing the new traffic plan and making required adjustments when we find any bottleneck’, he added.

According to DIG Wijetilleke the traffic plan was introduced three weeks back to be operational permanently along the Galle Road and Duplication Road after having several trials on weekends and even on week days.

There are traffic signs and boards right now giving the directions and signs where to turn and where not to turn and also indicating the one-way Roads and two-way Roads.

Problems

‘There are no problems for the people to get confused as they can see the sign boards to direct them to the correct path’, he added.

‘People who are not familiarised with the new traffic system are now getting familiarise with the system as it is operational for three weeks. Initially what we are trying to do is to educate them and guide them keeping them to proceed on the right direction.

But, after time goes by we will have to take action under the Motor Traffic Act if they violate the Road rules’, DIG Wijetilleke added. However, the biggest complaint about the new traffic plan comes from the passengers as they have to walk comparatively a long distance to reach their destination through the by-lanes connecting Galle Road and Duplication Road.

Favour

They say that the uniflow system is in favour of the motorists but not in favour of the people who are using public transport services.

Responding to the complaint the Senior DIG Wijetilleke said it is only in Colombo and suburb cities can one get bus halts even within a distance of 50 meters. The standard distance between two bus stops is around 250 meters.

Confirming the fact the Chief Engineer of the Road Development Authority, Dharshika Jayasena said that the RDA is also now taking steps to streamline the bus stops along the Galle Road and Duplication Road keeping a standard distance between two bus halts as it helps reduce the traffic congestion further.

‘The standard distance between two bus halts in the city is around 250 meters and this has not been practised in the Colombo city limits. Therefore we are taking steps to streamline the bus halts in the city limits’, she added.

Successfully

According to IP Vajira Indrajith the uni-flow traffic system along the Duplication Road and Galle Road between Bambalapitiya and Kollupitiya junction is being implemented successfully.

According to the new traffic flow the uni-flow traffic system has been extended upto Dickmans Road, Bambalapitiya.

At the Duplication Road Bauddhaloka Mawatha junction vehicle going towards Kollupitiya direction can enter Galle Road from the Bauddhaloka Mawatha Galle Road junction.

Vehicles plying on Duplication Road towards reaching Galle Road also can enter the Galle Road from the Bauddhaloka Mawatha Galle Road junction only to the direction of Kollupitiya.

The vehicles plying on the Duplication Road can also reach Thunmulla junction after entering Bauddhaloka Mawatha at Duplication Bauddhaloka Mawatha junction.

The vehicles plying on the Duplication Road to reach Galle Road should enter the Galle Road via Duplication Road Dickman’s Road junction after turning their vehicles towards the right.

Vehicles coming along the Duplication Road can turn their vehicles to the left at the Duplication Road Dickmans Road junction to reach Havelock Road.

But vehicles coming from Havelock Road via Dickmans Road cannot cross Duplication Road to reach Galle Road along Dickman’s Road. They should enter Galle Road after turning left at the Duplication Road and crossing the Duplication Road at Lorenz Road Duplication Road junction to reach Galle Road via Lorenz Road.

Bus Route No. 112 when entering Colombo via Havelock Road, will turn into Dickmans Road, then turn left at the Duplication Road-Dickmans Road junction and then turn right at Lorenz Road. At the top of Lorenz Road, it will turn right to enter Galle Road, to proceed towards Colombo Fort.

When leaving Colombo, it will come along Duplication Road, turn left at Dickmans Road junction, and enter Havelock Road at the end of Dickmans Road, as it does now. But the other buses which are turning towards Galle Road after coming along the Duplication Road can enter Galle Road via Dickmans Road stretch.

Directions

The buses proceeding towards the south also can reach Galle Road via Dickmans Road, he added.

From Dickmans Road junction to Wellawatte, vehicles can travel in both directions on Duplication Road as well as Galle Road. Vehicles coming from Wellawatte can enter Duplication Road only via De Krester Place, Nandana Gardens and Lorenz Road.

Vehicles entering Galle Road from Duplication Road can only use Hildon Place, Mcleod Road and Lorenz Road. Vehicles can travel in both directions on Lorenz Road.

Cross

The motorists using Vajira Road at Bambalapitiya cannot cross the Duplication Road either to reach Galle Road or to reach Havelock Road. The Road stretch of Vajira Road between Galle Road and Duplication Road will be open for one way traffic towards Duplication Road. But Vajira Road from Duplication Road to Havelock Road remains as a two-way Road.

According to IP Vajira Indrajith for the convenience of the motorists reaching Majestic City shopping complex the Joseph Lane stretch between the Duplication Road and Galle Road has been open for one-way traffic towards Galle Road.

Motorists using Joseph Lane can reach MC as the centre island at the Joseph Lane, Galle Road junction have been removed to facilitate the crossing of Galle Road at that point, he added.

Otherwise people reaching Majestic City from Kollupitiya side have to proceed upto Duplication Road Dickman’s Road junction and enter Galle Road via Dickman’s Road and proceed towards the MC along the Galle Road.

For motorists plying on the Galle Road can reach Vishaka Vidyalaya via Daisy Villa avenue as the stretch of Daisy Villa avenue from Galle Road and Duplication Road is open for one-way traffic towards Duplication Road.

They can enter Duplication Road at the Daisy Villa avenue Duplication Road junction and proceed along Duplication Road and reach Vajira Road stretch between Havelock Road and Duplication Road to reach Vishaka Vidayalaya. The motorists using the Galle Road cannot directly reach Vishaka Vidayalaya after proceeding along the Vajira Road as motorists cannot cross Duplication Road at Vajira Road-Duplication Road junction. They can reach Vishaka Vidyalaya after entering de Fonseka Mawatha from the Duplication Road de Fonseka Mawatha junction to reach Vishaka Road.

‘We have not introduced new traffic light system. The traffic lights which were there on this stretch of Galle Road and Duplication Road have been switched off. In some places such as Dickmans Road we have taken out traffic lights completely’, he added.