While the city traffic police have introduced several measures to improve traffic flow, one recent change is drawing criticism from daily commuters. At some major intersections, the duration of green signals has been reduced so drastically that vehicles are unable to clear the junction in a single cycle. One such trouble spot is Ajni Square on Wardha Road, where motorists say an eight second green signal is creating more congestion than relief. The signal for vehicles coming from the FCI Godown side and turning right towards Rahate Colony is so short that only a handful of vehicles can pass before it turns red again, leaving long queues and frustrated commuters during peak hours. The Hitavada visted the spot and observed that this particular signal only turned green for eight seconds.

 

Vehicles approaching from this side have to make a right turn across the junction, which makes it dangerous as it allows only a limited number of vehicles to clear the intersection before the signal turns red again, forcing many commuters to wait through multiple cycles and resulting in avoidable delays. The issue is particularly significant because Ajni Square lies on Wardha Road, which has high volume of traffic, particularly in the evening.

 

The stretch witnesses a constant flow of private buses, public transport buses, commercial vehicles, and office-hour traffic throughout the day. While the FCI godown approach may not carry traffic volumes comparable to the main Wardha Road, every vehicle approaching the junction still requires adequate time to complete the turn and safely cross the intersection. Vehicles are often still making the turn when the signal changes. Once the opposite direction receives a green signal, traffic begins moving immediately, creating the possibility of accidents. Given the volume of traffic passing through Ajni Square, even a small delay in clearing the junction can increase the risk of accidents and near-miss incidents. The problem is not merely one of congestion but also of ensuring that vehicles have enough time to complete their movement safely before traffic from other directions is released.