Caught in Maze: Vehicles criss crossing through the maze owing to absence of smooth connectivity between Jail Road and South Ambazari Road.

 

 

 

 

Noble intentions of planning authorities in providing a new road connectivity by cutting open Central Prison land has, however, put citizens, specially commuters, in a soup. Instead of helping smoothen vehicular traffic, the Jail road is proving to be a nightmare owing to absence of proper alignment in ensuring smooth connectivity with arterial road network ahead. Primarily, the need was of a proper and functioning traffic signal at the junction to smoothen traffic on busy Wardha Road. In absence of the signal, the traffic snarls have become order of the day, especially during the peak hours when there is rush of office goers.

 

 

During movement of VIPs, personnel of Traffic Control Branch are deployed to regulate traffic but during regular days there is total chaos. Moreover, a major design problem for citizens wishing to move onto Jail Road from tip of South Ambazari Road that integrates with Wardha Road. The crossing at Kriplani Turning right now does not facilitate criss-cross movement of the vehicles on to either side of the road. The problem has arisen due to presence of Nagpur Metro’s pillar right on the mouth from where vehicles coming from South Ambazari Road could have crossed over to Jail Road. So, commuters get puzzled on reaching the Kriplani Turning as they do not know how to head onto Jail Road that appears rather inviting owing to wide open and shining black top tar road. Confused at the traffic junction, commuters head to Rahate Colony where another solid jam awaits. Taking the U-turn at the square is quite a risk task as vehicles are continuously zooming past.

 

 

 (left) Recipe for Traffic Jam: Traffic jam is order of the day at Wardha Road junction owing to absence of connectivity to Jail Road. (right) Island of Confusion: New square formed at Kriplani Turning on Wardha has become an island of confusion as one can see long queue of vehicles right in front of the mouth of Jail Road while heading towards Ajni railway station. (Pics by Anil Futane)

 

 

On the other side of the new road, in front of Ajni railway station, owing to lesser movement of vehicles there is no apparent jam while heading towards Medical Square. However, the traffic coming from Ajni RoB do clash with vehicles trying to cross over to the other side. The confusions could have been avoided had traffic signals were integrated ahead of opening the Jail Road for vehicular traffic. When contacted, Manoj Talewar, Executive Engineer, Nagpur Municipal Corporation, told ‘The Hitavada’ that they have already planned for installation of traffic signals knowing well about problems faced by the commuters.

 

Technically Maha Metro had done the construction of the Jail Road and they are yet to transfer it to civic body, he added. Maha Metro spokesman, when contacted, said, the work on the Jail road stretch is not over yet and plans are afoot to take some measures to provide proper connectivity between two sets or roads to increase utility of Jail Road. The jail portion was opened to facilitate Nagpur Metro connectivity to Southern direction of city wherein a station is coming-up at Ajni railway station. For that purpose a curved alignment was planned leaving wide open land underneath to utilise where the new road was built. However, in a hurry to dedicate the road, planners have ignored basic road safety norms.