With traffic lights at the main intersection out of order, the police are weighing the option if roundabout would be a better option to replace the traffic lights. The traffic police have set-up a make-shift roundabout on trial basis, second time in the past six months.
The municipal committee of Kotkapura had installed traffic lights by demolishing the roundabout at the main intersection from where four roads lead to Faridkot, Muktsar, Moga and Bathinda.
It was about 6 months ago that the traffic police switched of the traffic lights and placed empty drums in the shape of a roundabout on the demand of the locals, who were of the view that lights were hindering the free flow of traffic. The idea of having a roundabout was appreciated by the locals, the police had claimed then.
But after two months' trial, the police had again switched on to traffic lights to control traffic. But, now, once again, the traffic police have again set-up a dummy round-about by placing empty drums in a circle.
"A roundabout should replace the traffic lights as latter require infrastructure which is not available here. Alos, only two free lanes are available here instead of four. Poor roads is another problem. The parking of buses on the Muktsar and Faridkot roads for long is also a problem when the traffic is controlled by traffic lights," said Rajinder Singh Jassal, a Kotkapura resident.
The residents are also of the opinion that the traffic police should stop weighing options and instead forward a proposal to have a roundabout.
"A roundabout should replace the traffic lights as latter require infrastructure which is not available here. Alos, only two free lanes are available here instead of four. Poor roads is another problem. The parking of buses on the Muktsar and Faridkot roads for long is also a problem when the traffic is controlled by traffic lights," said Rajinder Singh Jassal, a Kotkapura resident.
The residents are also of the opinion that the traffic police should stop weighing options and instead forward a proposal to have a roundabout.
"The feedback of the people is in favour of a soundabout. So, I will write to the officials concerned to construct a permanent roundabout," said Gurjeet Singh Romana, DSP, Jaitu, who is also the in-chage of district traffic police, Faridkot.
"The dummy roundabout has eased the traffic. But the police are yet to send us a proposal to have a roundabout," said Rachpal Singh Bhullar, executive officer of Kotkapura municipality. "Our traffic lights are still working," he claimed.
The Kotkapura has a population of 80,000.