Janakrosh for creation of intersection for better traffic management at Ajni
| Date :04-Jun-2022 |
Staff Reporter
Creation of intersection in front of NKY Tower near Ajit Bakery, Haldiram at Ajni can provide commuters an access to every road and it will help in better management of traffic, claimed Janakrosh, a social organisation working in the area of road traffic management.
At present, people coming from Kriplani Square or from Food Corporation of India (FCI) Godown are not able to go towards Deonagar or towards RPTS, or vice-versa so they choose wrong side creating accident-like situation. Earlier, there was opening in front of NKY Tower from where commuters had access to every road. But, it had become barrier as it was being used sans any planning so it was closed during construction of Metro and Double Decker bridge (Double Decker bridge reaches Hotel Pride).
Prakash Khandekar, a member of Janakrosh, studied the problem personally, prepared a solution and submitted it to Sarang Awad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Traffic) with maps and points. Khandekar proposed that the present opening near clock tower should be closed.
The intersection in front of NKY Tower near Haldiram and Ajit Bakery has a peculiar configuration. There are five roads. Two limbs of North South Wardha road (1) from Rahate colony and (2) from Chhatrapati square. On the East is (3) the FCI Godown road, and on the West (4) RPTS road and (5) Deo Nagar Khamla road. There are two junctions J1 and J2. The junction J1 of Wardha Road (from Rahate colony) and FCI Road is separated from Junction J2 Wardha road (from Chhatrapati square), RPTS road and Deonagar Khamla road by about 50 meters. At this J2 junction another free left limb of FCI Road connects, pointed out Khandekar in the letter.
Khandekar in the letter said, “The gap between Metro pillars has been open on junction J1 and automatic lights are installed. The gaps between Metro pillars is in the vicinity of junction J2 are totally blocked. Traffic from all directions is heavy during peak hours. There is major problem for traffic from (1) and (3) wishing to go to (4) and (5). There is no arrangement and all this traffic goes against the traffic from (2) Wardha road towards Rahate colony, causing continuous risk and conflict.”
The solution is Junction J2 can be redesigned and the planters between pillars should be removed in two bays. An island should be made at metro column. If one has a look at the map where Khandekar has explained everything, one would see traffic from each road 1,2,3,4 and 5 is colour coded. Traffic flow from each road can be seen. With this new intersection one can go from 1 to 3,2,5 and 4; from 2 to 5,4,1 and 3; from 3 to 2,5,4 and 1; from 4 to 1,3,2 and 5; from 5 to 4,1,3 and 2. All traffic has free left and rest has to go around the traffic island. Additionally U-turn around the island is also available.
Khandekar also suggested five sets of automatic signals, one for each road. This can be located on the traffic island. These will operate one at a time with pre-set (differentiated) cycle time. Therefore, traffic from one road at a time will operate and no conflict will arise.
Of course to make this arrangement more convenient the parking on this road is to be streamlined.
Khandekar explained, “Vehicles are haphazardly parked on road side and on footpaths, forcing pedestrians to walk on road and reducing largely the road width. There is no organised parking although there is the Metro station, many shops attracting crowds like Haldiram , Ajit Bakery and many others. Common centralised parking is proposed near the clock/Jail/FCI land. Initially ground level parking is proposed. No parking will be permitted along roadside as also not on footpaths.
“A systemic solution has been made. Detailed engineering design can be made after approval in principle. A basis that traffic from anywhere to anywhere should be able to travel without risk, has been the main stay of the suggestion/solution,” said Khandekar while elaborating it to ‘The Hitavada’.