Melaka's infamous traffic snarls back as visitors throng historic city

Shadan (Centre, in black T-shirt and Jeans) having a chat with traders at Melaka Zoo.

MELAKA: The infamous traffic snarls here in the historic city are back after almost a year of relative quiet.

On Saturday (Oct 16), there was a heavy volume of vehicles on the roads at Jalan Bendahara towards Taman Melaka Raya here and even Jonker Street.

Locals had to use alternative routes to get to their usual destinations as crowds gathered at the Stadthuys and other tourism hotspots.

Melaka deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Razali Abu Samah said the Melaka traffic division recorded the entry of 64,471 vehicles entering through the three toll plazas in the state between Thursday (Oct 14) and Friday (Oct 15).

He said 23,866 vehicles entered the state via the Ayer Keroh, Simpang Ampat and Lipat Kijang toll plazas on Thursday (Oct 14) while 40,605 vehicles made it in on Friday (Oct 15).

SAC Razali said on the other hand, 55,902 vehicles exited from all three toll plazas on Thursday and 32,667 vehicles on Friday.

"We have also intensified our checks at all avenues to ensure that only fully vaccinated individuals enter Melaka," he added.

Meanwhile, Melaka Zoo recorded an unexpected surge in visitor arrivals from other states.

Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council (MPHTJ) president Datuk Shadan Othman said some 2,500 visitors entered the menagerie on Friday, mostly from Johor.

"Today, we see an overwhelming increase that even doubled the visitors recorded on Friday," he said when interviewed on Saturday.

Shadan said the number of visitors is expected to reach a record high on Sunday (Oct 17).

He said the stall owners at the zoo were also happy with the increase of visitors as well as the brisk sales.

"I visited them and can see the smiles on their faces after business improved," he added.