Sickly chaos at Medical Square

Vehicles from all directions creating chaos at Medical Square. (Pic by Anil Futane)

By Kaushik Bhattacharya :

RISING traffic congestion is an inescapable condition in the city like Nagpur. Usually it is the administration that is the first to take the blame for traffic jams and road accidents. But no one accepts their responsibility of having a good traffic sense and obeying traffic rules. Medical Square is a prime example of traffic chaos in the city. It connects six roads coming from Untkhana Square, Hanuman Nagar, Tukadoji Putla, Imambada, Ajni and Baidyanath Square.

There is always peak time for traffic jam on this junction as commuters are impatient and confused to get their way after crossing the junction. Many times in a day, vehicles from opposite directions come dangerously close to each other. Impatience of two/four-wheeler riders makes the situation more dangerous. Light vehicles and bicycle riders are in a fix and stop in the middle of the junction, before ‘adjusting’ their positions in the chaos and wriggling out in the desired direction. Absence of traffic signal on this square makes it more inconvenient for commuters to tackle the traffic jam at Medical Square throughout the day.

Many commuters take ill-placed pride in cutting lanes and going wrong side. People violating the traffic rules feel as if they are duty-bound to cause inconvenience to people who follow traffic rules. Hospitals, educational institutions, coaching classes, market place and shopping malls keep this junction busy throughout the day. Youngsters on bikes, autowallahs, school buses and cyclists are the major traffic rule violators at the junction, least bothered to the inconvenience caused to other commuters. Some zoom past the vehicles following the lanes, unmindful that they are risking life of not only their own but also of others. For many, jumping traffic signal is a matter of pride and also an excuse to getting late. But no one realises their mistake that may they harm someone else who is following the rule.

Traffic police have installed close-circuit Television (CCTV) cameras throughout the city to nab traffic violators and punish them. Instead of following strict traffic rules, most of the commuters try to deceive it without any repentance. Some others are happy saving the fuel in their vehicles, by going wrong-side. If some person questions their action, these wrong-siders and wrong-doers do not mind an angry confrontation. Similarly, at Baidyanath Square, traffic from Ganeshpeth and Great Nag Road meets. Though traffic signals are working, many people simply jump it. Due to cement road work going on between Medical Square and Baidyanath Square, many commuters prefer to go wrong side to save their fuel and reduce traveling time.

Traffic police are present only on and off. Rest is left to traffic signals and CCTV cameras. Untkhana Square, a junction of five roads, is another major spot where vehicles, mainly two-wheelers, choose to go to their destination by moving on the wrong side. From Untkhana Square to Medical Square, youngsters zoom their vehicles from wrong side to reach restaurants and petrol pump situated near Haldiram’s outlet as the road dividers hardly have any gaps. Along with poor traffic sense, issue of wrong side parking and double lane parking is another menace for the smooth movement at Medical Square. Two wheeler riders, ambulance, bus, autos, and four wheelers park their vehicles at will. It is always the obedient traffic rule follower who has to bear the brunt.