Chaos at landing of Sadar fly-over: NHAI averse to traffic deptt solutions
| Date :15-Jan-2020 |
An SUV took a wrong turn moving towards NIT office in spite of four-wheelers coming from opposite direction.
Staff Reporter :
THE growing problem of traffic chaos at landing of the newly-inaugurated Sadar fly-over near Reserve Bank of India made Traffic Police conduct an emergency meeting with officials of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), on Tuesday. However, the NHAI officials are still disinterested over some suggestions asking for more time to resolve the issue. The NHAI officials are simply not ready to accept that the design of the fly-over is faulty, it has been learnt. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Traffic, Chinmay Pandit told ‘The Hitavada’ that problems related to traffic congestion at the point were discussed with NHAI officials and a slew of measures were also suggested to solve the issue.
(Left) A woman bike rider moving in wrong direction towards RBI square. (Right) Vehicle indulged in lane cutting on the fly-over. (Below right) Traffic cops suggested opening of these spaces for traffic coming from the fly-over.
Some of the suggestions include; Construction of road divider across the bridge, diversion of traffic flow coming from RBI square, opening of new space for traffic coming from the bridge, and erection of signal at the landing of bridge, he said. A road safety expert said that construction of road divider on the bridge was necessary as one can notice lane cutting by speeding vehicles on the bridge round the clock. “Such regular lane cutting could turn into a tragedy any time,” he said while reminding of the gory mishap on Shahid Gowari fly-over in year 2006 in which a biker fell from the bridge with his motorcycle and lost his life. He was hit by a speeding during lane cutting.
Soon after, authorities swung into action and placed fiber road-dividers on the bridge. Sources claimed that NHAI officials were not in favour of immediate construction of road-divider and suggested some temporary arrangement. The road safety expert questioned lethargic attitude of NHAI officials saying that road divider should have been added in the basic design of the bridge. “Now, they should act immediately and construct a divider,” he said. Traffic police have also written to NMC for installation of traffic signal at the landing. “It would ease traffic chaos and prevent accidents at the landing. The signal would be for traffic coming from RBI square and vehicles coming from the bridge,” the DCP said. However, road safety expert questioned the move and commented that it would add to the traffic chaos.
Within 20 seconds, vehicles would be lined up till the RBI square as it is most busy road in the city with high density of four wheelers and buses, he said. DCP Pandit also suggested opening of space between metro pillars for traffic movement. Now, vehicles coming from the bridge are taking U-turn at LIC square for RBI square. “If this space is opened, vehicles can directly move through these spaces and turn towards RBI square. Keeping safety aspect in the mind, we decided to construct speed breakers near landing of the bridge and also on LIC square to RBI square,” the DCP said. “Traffic moving towards LIC square from RBI square would be diverted through NIT office turning to reduce chaos as temporary arrangement,” Pandit stated and added that this arrangement would last till construction of signal.
Office of Maha Metro’s contractor occupying road SITE office of a contractor of Maha Metro located on the stretch between RBI square and LIC square has created a bottleneck at the landing of Sadar fly-over. The temporary office has occupied major part of the road creating chaos at the T-point. However, Maha Metro officials are turning a blind eye towards the problem. The site office of a contractor of Maha Metro located on the stretch of road.