THE traffic crisis in the State capital has escalated beyond daylight hours as heavy vehicles increasingly seize control of major city arteries and peripheral roads. The ongoing repair work on the Sukhi Sewaniya Railway Overbridge (ROB) led the administration to shut down the bypass for three months, necessitating a strategic traffic plan. Although the traffic police designated a comprehensive 80- kilometer diversion route via Sanchi and Raisen to Kokta for trucks, drivers are openly defying these regulations. In a bid to save a mere 11.5 kilometers of travel, heavy transport vehicles are illegally entering the heart of the city, causing significant logistical chaos. Post-midnight surge in no-entry zones The expiration of ‘No-Entry’ hours at 11 pm marks the beginning of a nightly ordeal for the city’s outskirts, where kilometers-long queues of trucks and trailers become a common sight. From late night until 4 am, these massive vehicles dominate narrow urban roads that were never designed for such high-capacity transit. Areas including Mubarakpur Jod, Bairagarh, Lalghati, and even the scenic VIP Road are witnessing a steady stream of containers. The unregulated movement of heavy vehicles through Misrod 11 Mile and Bagsewaniya has not only crippled the traffic machinery but has also drastically increased the risk of fatal accidents for local nighttime commuters. Internal road networks crumble under unauthorised pressure The repercussions of this heavy vehicle influx are now manifesting during afternoon hours as well, as drivers bypass the alternative routes established for light vehicles.

 

Densely populated neighbourhoods such as Chopra, Khejra, Patel Nagar, Anand Nagar, and Piplani are facing unprecedented pressure from heavy trucks navigating through internal lanes. These residential roads, constructed specifically for light vehicle loads, are deteriorating rapidly under the weight of heavy logistics. Local residents have expressed deep-seated anger regarding the dual threats of compromised road safety and the rapid destruction of public infrastructure. The presence of large trucks within narrow commercial and residential districts has led to a surge in road rage incidents and minor accidents. A recent altercation in Jumrati Market involving a truck conductor escalated into physical violence, prompting a retaliatory act where vehicle windows were smashed. Similarly, at the Retghat intersection on VIP Road, a large container caused extensive damage to several parked cars while attempting a turn. These incidents underscore the fact that city intersections are geometrically unsuitable for long-wheelbase vehicles, yet they continue to operate under the apparent oversight of enforcement agencies. “Six checkpoints have been activated across densely populated areas to prevent heavy vehicles from entering residential zones. Trucks are being intercepted and redirected to the main outer roads. Enforcement is being carried out on VIP Road, Sultaniya Road, and Hamidia Road,” said Jitendra Singh Pawar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Bhopal.