Coimbatore city's ambulance response time has decreased from 11.57 to 7.10 minutes due to traffic management changes, including U-turns and roundabouts. These modifications have also reduced accident fatalities on Avinashi Road.
Coimbatore: The average response time of ambulance services in Coimbatore city has significantly improved, dropping to 7.10 minutes from the previous 11.57 minutes. This improvement is attributed to the traffic management modifications implemented by the city police, including the introduction of U-turns and roundabouts.
Police officials report that since the implementation of the U-turn system, which replaced traffic signals on Avinashi Road, a major thoroughfare in the city, in 2023, there has been a notable decrease in accident-related fatalities. These changes have proven effective despite ongoing infrastructure work, such as the construction of an elevated corridor on Avinashi Road and the Ukkadam Flyover.
Over the past year and a half, at least 40 U-turns and six roundabouts have been introduced in the city, replacing conventional traffic signals by 95%. Avinashi Road alone now features 24 U-turns. A senior police officer stated, "Apart from reducing response time, the traffic flow modifications have also reduced fatalities on Avinashi Road."
The success of these modifications has garnered attention beyond Coimbatore. G Manuneethi, Division Engineer of the State Highways Department, who has been instrumental in implementing these changes, authored an article published in the journal of the Indian Road Congress at its 228th Midterm council meeting held in June 2024. Following this publication, officials from Maharashtra visited Coimbatore to study the implementation of U-turns and roundabouts, with the intent of replicating the system in their state.
Since their introduction, the Coimbatore City police have been setting up U-turns as temporary structures, modifying them based on traffic feedback. The ongoing elevated corridor construction on Avinashi Road has necessitated frequent alterations to the U-turn systems to accommodate construction work. Now, the police are planning to establish a permanent U-turn structure at Hope College Signal on Avinashi Road. "We have conducted a study there, and after several modifications, we have decided to set up a permanent U-turn," a senior police officer explained.
These traffic management innovations in Coimbatore serve as a model for improving urban traffic flow and emergency response times, potentially influencing similar changes in other cities across India.
Police officials report that since the implementation of the U-turn system, which replaced traffic signals on Avinashi Road, a major thoroughfare in the city, in 2023, there has been a notable decrease in accident-related fatalities. These changes have proven effective despite ongoing infrastructure work, such as the construction of an elevated corridor on Avinashi Road and the Ukkadam Flyover.
Over the past year and a half, at least 40 U-turns and six roundabouts have been introduced in the city, replacing conventional traffic signals by 95%. Avinashi Road alone now features 24 U-turns. A senior police officer stated, "Apart from reducing response time, the traffic flow modifications have also reduced fatalities on Avinashi Road."
The success of these modifications has garnered attention beyond Coimbatore. G Manuneethi, Division Engineer of the State Highways Department, who has been instrumental in implementing these changes, authored an article published in the journal of the Indian Road Congress at its 228th Midterm council meeting held in June 2024. Following this publication, officials from Maharashtra visited Coimbatore to study the implementation of U-turns and roundabouts, with the intent of replicating the system in their state.
Since their introduction, the Coimbatore City police have been setting up U-turns as temporary structures, modifying them based on traffic feedback. The ongoing elevated corridor construction on Avinashi Road has necessitated frequent alterations to the U-turn systems to accommodate construction work. Now, the police are planning to establish a permanent U-turn structure at Hope College Signal on Avinashi Road. "We have conducted a study there, and after several modifications, we have decided to set up a permanent U-turn," a senior police officer explained.
These traffic management innovations in Coimbatore serve as a model for improving urban traffic flow and emergency response times, potentially influencing similar changes in other cities across India.