Wrong-side driving rampant on Puducherry’s arterial roads

Rampant practice of vehicle users driving on the wrong side on arterial roads in Puducherry have been hindering the free flow of traffic and posing a threat to law-abiding vehicle users.

While the practice continues unchecked on the Ambalathadayar Madam Street and near traffic junctions at Indira Gandhi Square and Rajiv Gandhi square, such violations have now become common on the arterial Jawaharlal Nehru Street and Dumas Street in the Boulevard.

Several vehicle users could be seen driving on the wrong side to Nehru Street from Ambour and Gingee Salai. Many two-wheelers and even cars, could be seen heading towards Nehru Street on the wrong side rather than going down Ambalathadayar Madam Street.

Many motorists resort to the practice to avoid U-turns or to save time, but this leads to the possibility of head-on crashes and traffic disruptions, an official said.

Motorists riding on the wrong side endangering road safety at Ambalathadayar Madam Street in Puducherry on July 26, 2026
| Photo Credit:
S.S. Kumar

With motorists and vehicle users showing scant regard to the ‘No Entry’ Board erected by the Traffic police on these roads, the city is now rife with one-way violations creating a perilous situation for other vehicle users.

According to an urban planner, “The mindset behind wrong-side driving is what truly needs to change. Many people seem to believe it is their right to drive against traffic, when in fact it endangers everyone else on the road. A case in point is the J.N. Street. Although the traffic police personnel are stationed at nearby Traffic police station to divert traffic and check violations, some people tend to ride through the wrong way. The rules are mostly violated by the two-wheeler riders. When vehicle users come in the opposite direction unexpectedly accidents could take place.”

According to a senior official of the Traffic Police, “We have been actively enforcing against wrong-side driving on the East Coat Road (ECR) and other designated one-way roads. This practice is extremely dangerous for motorists travelling in the correct direction, and ultimately it comes down to a behavioural problem. Our goal is to change how people drive. Regular enforcement has occasionally taken a back seat due to disruptions from other traffic movements, protests, and other competing priorities. But we are working to address every issue as it comes up.”

The officer added, the drive, conducted at arterial roads over the last week, saw cases being filed against 545 persons for wrong side driving. The enforcement drive will continue.