Sun Jan 04 08:30:15 UTC 2026: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewrite as a news article:
Summary:
A dangerous gap in the median on Villianur Road near Indira Gandhi Square in Puducherry is causing traffic chaos, increasing accident risks. Vehicles are misusing the gap to avoid traffic signals, obstructing traffic flow and leading to near-misses. Residents and urban planners are calling for the gap to be permanently closed, citing a history of accidents and fatalities on this stretch of road. Officials are aware of the problem and claim to be looking into remedial measures, but the problem persists with barricades often being removed at night. Traffic violations at Indira Gandhi Square, especially illegal U-turns, exacerbate the situation.
News Article:
Traffic Chaos and Safety Concerns Plague Villianur Road in Puducherry
PUDUCHERRY, January 4, 2026 – A problematic gap in the median of Villianur Road, near the busy Indira Gandhi Square, is creating dangerous traffic conditions and raising serious safety concerns for commuters in Puducherry. The opening, originally intended to provide access to Villianur Road from a nearby petrol station, is now being exploited by drivers seeking to bypass traffic signals, resulting in significant congestion and increased accident risk.
Residents report that vehicles, particularly buses and cars, are routinely using the gap to cut in line, disrupting the flow of traffic headed towards Indira Gandhi Square. “The situation is a disaster waiting to happen,” said A. Arasukumar, a local resident. “The gap was temporarily closed, but the barricades were soon removed, and now there’s no control.”
Urban planners are echoing these concerns, pointing to a history of accidents and fatalities along Villianur Road. “This median opening needs to be permanently closed,” stated one planner. “We’ve seen a pattern of wrong-way driving and unauthorized median openings leading to tragic consequences. Heavy vehicles are particularly reckless on this stretch.”
While officials acknowledge the issue and claim it was discussed at the District Road Safety Committee Meeting, a solution has yet to be implemented. An official stated that they are aware of the illegal U-turns at Indira Gandhi Square are also contributing to the chaos, and that they would look into remedial measures to close the gaps, but for now, the problem persists, with reports that barricades are frequently removed at night, exacerbating the danger.
Commuters are urged to exercise extreme caution when navigating Villianur Road near Indira Gandhi Square until a permanent solution is implemented. The authorities are under increasing pressure to address this pressing road safety issue before further accidents occur.
First Piper 