A misleading warning board near the closed service road on Dighori side of the Indora-Dighori flyover is forcing motorists travelling from Umred towards Chhatrapati Square and Pardi to take a dangerous U-turn on the flyover near Tajbag, turning a temporary road closure into a serious traffic safety concern. Several videos showing vehicles making the risky manoeuvre have recently gone viral on social media, drawing attention to the apparent traffic violation. However, the situation on the ground suggests that the closure of the service road for concretisation has left commuters with few alternatives if they need to access the Inner Ring Road. The service road near the flyover’s up-ramp on Dighori side has been closed to facilitate concretisation up to Dighori Square.

 

The work is part of the road development aimed at improving connectivity in the area. With the stretch unavailable, motorists approaching from Umred are unable to take the usual route towards the Inner Ring Road. The warning board installed near the ramp directs commuters to use the flyover. However, it does not adequately clarify the alternative route for those intending to proceed towards Chhatrapati Square or Pardi. Following the instruction, several motorists continue along the flyover before attempting to descend through a U-turn near Tajbag. The manoeuvre is particularly risky as vehicles coming from Umred side have to negotiate the turn on the flyover, potentially putting themselves and other road users in danger.

 

It becomes even more dangrous as the heavy buses, trucks along with two-wheelers and cars are also using the U-turn, putting the commuters coming up the ramp in danger of a fatal accident. Residents living near the stretch said the problem had become more noticeable after the service road was closed. “Motorists are being told to use the flyover, but there is no clear guidance about how they should reach the Inner Ring Road. Many realise too late that they have taken the wrong route and then attempt a U-turn on Tajbag ramp,” said a local resident. Commuters also questioned why clear diversion signs had not been installed before the service road was shut.

 

“People are not deliberately taking a dangerous turn. They follow the signboard and then find themselves in a situation where they do not know how to proceed. A proper diversion should have been displayed well before the ramp,” said a commuter travelling towards Dighori. An NHAI official said the concretisation work on the service road had been expedited and was expected to take around a month to complete. The road would be reopened to commuters after the work was finished. Until then, the absence of clear directions and a properly marked diversion risks encouraging more motorists to attempt the dangerous turn. Commuters have called for immediate corrective measures, including clear signboards indicating the available route towards the Inner Ring Road, to prevent accidents during the remaining period of construction.